Department for Transport

Department for Transport: Remote Working

Rachel Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the impact of increased homeworking during the covid-19 outbreak on his Department’s carbon footprint.

Andrew Stephenson: No assessment has been carried out regarding the impact of increased homeworking during the covid-19 outbreak on the Department's carbon footprint Since all legal restrictions in England have been lifted, all Department for Transport employees are required to return to working in their respective workplaces - with full time home working only permitted on an exceptional basis.

Roads: Cornwall

Cherilyn Mackrory: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the road safety of the Cubert Crossroads in Cornwall; and whether his Department will release funds to improve this junction.

Trudy Harrison: Following a number of serious accidents at the A3075 Cubert Crossroads junction, Cornwall Council is seeking funding to improve it. In August 2020, Cornwall Council submitted an Expression of Interest for the scheme through the Department’s Local Pinch Point Fund. The Fund has been superseded by the £4.8 billion Levelling Up Fund (LUF) so I would encourage Cornwall to consider submitting a bid for the second round of LUF later this year. In addition, we are providing Cornwall Council with £32.46 million in Highways Maintenance funding in each of the next three years. This is an un-ringfenced grant which may be used for local road improvements.

P&O Ferries: United Arab Emirates

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made contact with the Government of UAE regarding the recent actions of Dubai Ports-owned P&O.

Robert Courts: The Secretary of State has not as yet made contact with the Government of the UAE in relation to the recent actions of P&O. However, both myself and the Secretary of State have been in contact with P&O Ferries.

P&O Ferries: Cyprus

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has held discussions with the Government of Cyprus on the recent actions of P&O Ferries.

Robert Courts: The Secretary of State has not as yet held discussions with the Government of Cyprus in relation to the recent actions of P&O Ferries. However, both myself and the Secretary of State have been in contact with P&O Ferries.

Motorways: Pollution Control

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent steps he has taken to mitigate the effects of (a) noise pollution, (b) light pollution and (c) air pollution from motorways adjacent to residential areas.

Trudy Harrison: National Highways is implementing a programme of measures around the country to mitigate air pollution at locations identified by Defra’s national Pollution Climate Mapping (PCM) model on the Strategic Road Network (SRN) as above the annual mean nitrogen dioxide (NO2) limit value. These measures include: local traffic management, 60mph speed limits to reduce emissions compared to vehicles travelling at the national speed limit on motorways and dual carriageways, working with local authorities (investing £12.5m with authorities in Leeds, Coventry, Kent, Nottingham, Sheffield and Bristol) to accelerate the uptake of zero tailpipe emission vans.National Highways has also undertaken an extensive programme of air quality research and continues to assess new and initiative technologies and measures that will support their work to reduce NO2 levels on the SRN.National Highways has an obligation to minimise the environmental impact of the SRN. Consequently, it has had a long-standing programme of work to review the cost effectiveness of its lighting stock, removing cost-ineffective lights and to minimise the obtrusive light emitted by new or replacement road lighting schemes. National Highways requires its designers to use national and international standards, supported by industry best practice guidance.To address noise pollution on the SRN and affected residential areas, National Highways builds measures into the newer parts of its network to control noise and install noise mitigation measures as standard on its road schemes. National Highways implements a variety of measures to reduce noise in its new schemes or existing roads, including changing to low-noise road surfaces, implementing noise barriers and insulating houses to reduce the noise that people are exposed to. Noise mitigation is provided during routine maintenance, as part of major schemes, and through standalone noise mitigation projects funded from National Highways Designated Funds Programme.

P&O Ferries: Conditions of Employment

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to protect workers rights at P&O Ferries.

Robert Courts: The Secretary of State has written to the chief executive of P&O Ferries to express his anger over their handling of the situation and urge him to engage with the seafarers affected to rectify his decision.I also spoke to the CEO on Thursday 17 March to express my concern and anger at the manner in which they have treated their loyal, hard working seafarers. I will continue to engage with P&O Ferries throughout this situation and have insisted P&O Ferries support those affected.The Department for Work and Pensions have reached out to P&O Ferries employees to offer assistance and a number of schemes can be accessed. The Home Office, other transport operators and local employers are also offering support within their respective organisations.

P&O Ferries: Redundancy

Mike Amesbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with P&O ferries on the 800 members of staff who have been sacked from their jobs; what steps his Department is taking to (a) support those staff and (b) minimise passenger disruption.

Robert Courts: The Secretary of State has written to the chief executive of P&O Ferries to express his anger over their handling of the situation and urge him to engage with the seafarers affected to rectify his decision.I also spoke with the CEO of P&O Ferries on Thursday 17 March to express my concern and anger at the manner in which they have treated their loyal, hard working seafarers. I will continue to engage with P&O Ferries throughout this situation and have insisted P&O Ferries support those affected.The Department for Work and Pensions have reached out to P&O Ferries employees to offer assistance and a number of schemes can be accessed. The Home Office, other transport operators and local employers are also offering support within their respective organisations.Although replacement services are available, there will be some disruption over the coming days. Officials are in close contact with resilience forums across the country and with the Devolved Administrations to mitigate this disruption.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Energy: Billing

Mr Steve Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what mechanism his Department used to ensure that the £200m in CFD payments made to the Low Carbon Contracts Company by renewables generators between September 2021 and February 2022 was passed through to consumers as energy bill savings.

Greg Hands: The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Skilled Workers: Vacancies and Productivity

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the recruitment industry on (a) skills shortages and (b) improving productivity in the labour market.

Lee Rowley: The Recruitment and Employment Confederation met with us on 27th October 2021 to discuss skills shortages and they regularly attend PBS Sector Calls to outline their views. These occur broadly monthly, the last was on the 9th of March, with both ministerial and recruitment sector representatives. We welcome their continued engagement on these important issues.

Energy Bills Rebate

Charlotte Nichols: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of giving consumers the option to opt out of the repayable £200 discount on energy bills.

Greg Hands: The intention is that all domestic electricity bills will receive this reduction to keep the scheme simple and administrative costs low. The Government will be consulting on the detail of the scheme in the coming weeks.

Warm Home Discount Scheme: Carers

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of including unpaid carers in the eligibility criteria for the Warm Home Discount.

Greg Hands: The Warm Home Discount is a key policy in the Government’s strategy for tackling fuel poverty. The Government consulted on reforming the Warm Home Discount scheme to better target fuel poverty and to provide the rebates automatically to households, as announced in the Energy White Paper. The Government’s response to the consultation will be published in the coming weeks. The reforms include focusing support on households on the lowest incomes who are struggling to heat their homes. Eligibility would therefore be linked to receipt of a qualifying means-tested benefit and having high energy costs. Unpaid carers in receipt of one of the qualifying means-tested benefits and with high energy costs would therefore be eligible for a rebate.

Redundancy: Prosecutions

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many prosecutions for failure to give notice of proposed redundancy under section 194 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 have been authorised by a Minister or authorised officer in each year since 2010.

Paul Scully: In England and Wales, proceedings for the offence contrary to section 194(1) Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 may only be instituted by or with the consent of the Secretary of State or by an officer authorised by him for that purpose. There have been two such prosecutions since 2010. Proceedings in Scotland are a matter for the Lord Advocate through the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.

P&O Ferries: Redundancy

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he has received any notification of proposed redundancies from P&O Ferries under the provisions of section 193 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992.

Paul Scully: An employer proposing to dismiss 20 or more employees at one establishment is required under section 193 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 to notify in writing the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. In appropriate cases, failure to notify in accordance with section 193 of the Act is a criminal offence and can result in an unlimited fine. No advance notification of redundancy was submitted by P&O Ferries to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. We have asked the Insolvency Service to look at the notification requirements in relation to the redundancies announced last week and to consider if any further action is appropriate.

CF Industries

Geraint Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the total cost to the Government was of its agreement in September 2021 to meet the costs to CF Industries of reopening one or more of its sites producing commercial carbon dioxide.

Lee Rowley: This is commercially sensitive information that relates to a company’s production costs and sales. It is not appropriate to provide figures of costs at this time.  Details of our support will be published in the 2021-22 BEIS Annual Report and Accounts which will be available on gov.uk.

Fuel Oil

Jamie Stone: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many and what proportion of households his Department estimates are reliant on heating oil; and if he will provide those data for households (a) by region in England, (b) in Scotland and (c) in Wales.

Greg Hands: Analysis of the English Housing Survey (2018/19), Scottish House Condition Survey (2019) and Welsh Housing Conditions Survey (17/18) suggests that around 3%, 5% and 10% of households in England, Scotland and Wales respectively are estimated to have oil as their main form of heating.

Energy: Investment Income

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the report entitled Profiting amid the energy crisis: the distribution networks at the heart of the UK's gas and electricity system, published on 14 March 2022, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the report's findings on the level of dividends paid by electricity distribution and gas distribution network operators to shareholders since 2017.

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the report entitled Profiting amid the energy crisis: the distribution networks at the heart of the UK's gas and electricity system, published on 14 March 2022, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the report's findings on the profitability of electricity and gas distribution industries in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Greg Hands: Network regulation is a matter for Ofgem as the energy regulator. While dividends are a matter for the individual companies and are a normal part of returns to equity capital providers, the return on capital network companies can earn is regulated by Ofgem. Ofgem uses the RIIO price control to establish a regulatory framework which allows network companies to attract the investment they need to ensure a safe, secure and reliable supply of energy while saving consumers money by keeping returns as low as possible. In the most recent price control for gas distribution and electricity transmission RIIO-2, Ofgem has reduced the allowed return on capital to save consumers £2.3 billion over the five-year price control period. Ofgem will propose a similar reduction in allowed returns in the forthcoming electricity distribution price control.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Remote Working

Rachel Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the impact of increased homeworking during the covid-19 outbreak on his Department’s carbon footprint.

Greg Hands: The Department monitors and reports on its greenhouse gas emissions and this information is published in the Greening Government Commitments Annual Report.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Staff

Darren Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many officials in the Business British Bank sponsoring team within his Department have a professional background in banking regulation; and how that number has changed in each of the last three years.

Paul Scully: The Government’s sponsorship team for the British Business Bank is split across the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and UK Government Investments (UKGI). Currently four colleagues on the team have private sector professional experience in the financial services sector (2021: four, 2020: two). The BBB is not (and has never been) a regulated bank, given its wholesale model, i.e. ordinarily delivering through delivery partners, with no direct relationship with SME borrowers. Neither BEIS nor UKGI perform the function of a regulator with respect to BBB.

Employment: Pregnancy

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 2 February 2022 to Question 117049 on Employment: Pregnancy, if he will publish (a) the Terms of Reference and (b) the minutes of the meeting of 23 September 2021 of his Department's Pregnancy and Maternity Discrimination Advisory Board.

Paul Scully: The Pregnancy and Maternity Discrimination Advisory Board has been established and is considering the information and guidance available on pregnancy and maternity discrimination to ensure it continues to be relevant and is effective in supporting employers and employees. The minutes of the first meeting and terms of reference are being drafted and will be reviewed at its next meeting.

Energy: Prices

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to protect leaseholders living in flats with communal heating systems from energy bill increases.

Greg Hands: Renters and leaseholders are facing financial pressures this winter, which is why the Government is taking action worth more than £9.1billion in supporting households through initiatives such as the Energy Bills Rebate, the Household Support Fund, Warm Home Discount, Winter Fuel Payments and Cold Weather Payments. Depending on their financial situation and income, people may qualify for one or more of these schemes and should get in touch with their local authorities who will best advise them on their eligibility.

Iron and Steel: Government Assistance

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of Government support for the steel sector.

Lee Rowley: The Government recognises the vital role that the steel sector plays in our economy across all areas of the UK and has supported the steel sector extensively including providing over £600 million since 2013 to help with the costs of electricity. We will continue to work with the sector to support their low carbon decarbonisation. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I have regular engagement with the sector and trade unions to discuss the sector and Government support for it. We reconvened the Steel Council in 2021, which had its fifth meeting on 21 February.

Northern Ireland Office

Northern Ireland Office: Remote Working

Rachel Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the impact of increased homeworking during the covid-19 outbreak on his Department’s carbon footprint.

Conor Burns: As a Department, we are committed to making our estate and operations more sustainable, and support, where possible, the delivery of the Greening Government Commitments. I can confirm that my Department has not made a separate assessment of the impact of increased homeworking during the covid-19 outbreak on its carbon footprint.

Northern Ireland Office: Carbon Emissions

Rachel Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps his Department is taking to measure its carbon footprint.

Conor Burns: As a Department, we are committed to making our estate and operations more sustainable, and support, where possible, the delivery of the Greening Government Commitments. I can confirm that we do not independently measure our carbon footprint, but rely upon the provision of data, based on floor area and/or headcount, from our government landlords and corporate travel providers.

Northern Ireland Office: Carbon Emissions

Rachel Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether his Department has published a plan setting out the steps it plans to take to transition to net zero emissions.

Conor Burns: The Government published its Net Zero Strategy in October 2021, which sets out policies and proposals for decarbonising all sectors of the UK economy to meet our Net Zero target by 2050. As a small department, with a low carbon footprint and a tenant in two government hub buildings, my department has not produced a separate plan, although we act sustainably when conducting our business.

Northern Ireland Office: Sustainable Development

Rachel Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether a senior official in his Department has responsibility for departmental sustainability.

Conor Burns: As a Department, we are committed to making our estate and operations more sustainable, and support, where possible, the delivery of the Greening Government Commitments. I can confirm that we have a Director who is responsible for overseeing the Department's corporate functions, including sustainability issues.

Department of Health and Social Care

Members: Correspondence

Dan Carden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when his Department plans to respond to the letter dated 17 February 2022 from the hon. Member for Liverpool, Walton.

Edward Argar: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

COVID-19 Vaccines Benefit Risk Expert Working Group

Sir Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish the (a) roles, (b) qualifications, (c) relevant experience of and (d) dates of appointment for the members of the Vaccine Benefit Risk Expert Working Group.

Maggie Throup: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Sir Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 1 March 2022 to Question 100420, on Coronavirus: Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura, if he will publish the evidence relied upon in reaching the determination that an association between the AstraZeneca covid-19 vaccine and TTS was likely.

Maggie Throup: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme

Sir Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 13 January 2022 to Question 100419 on Coronavirus: Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme, how many independent experienced medical advisers have been appointed to consider VDPS applications ;and if he will publish their (a) names, (b) qualifications and (c) relevant experience.

Maggie Throup: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Mental Health Act 1983: Reform

Dr Rosena Allin-Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish a timeline of when he plans to lay before the House proposed reforms to the Mental Health Act.

Gillian Keegan: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for North Durham (Mr Kevan Jones MP) on 18 January 2022 to Question 101659.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department has taken to fund research into intra-nasal covid-19 vaccines.

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support research into intra-nasal covid-19 vaccines.

Alexander Stafford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support research into intra-nasal covid-19 vaccines.

Maggie Throup: The Department commissions research through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). The NIHR and UK Research and Innovation have funded rapid research to support the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including on nasal administration of vaccines. Approximately £580,000 in funding was awarded to Imperial College London towards a study looking at safety and lower airway immunogenicity of two candidate COVID-19 vaccines administered to the respiratory tract. Additionally, the NIHR is providing infrastructure support to two phase one studies in this area, including the study at Imperial College London. As the largest public funder of health and care research, the NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including intra-nasal COVID-19 vaccines.

Food: Nutrition

Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when his Department plans to launch its consultation on the products in scope for the upcoming restrictions on the advertising of less healthy food and drink.

Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the outcome of the forthcoming consultation on the products in scope for the restrictions on the advertising of less healthy food and drink will also determine the products in scope for the restrictions on the promotion of unhealthy food and drink.

Maggie Throup: The product categories in scope of the restrictions on less healthy food and drink advertising have been outlined in the Government’s consultation response published in June 2021. The upcoming consultation will focus on the clarity of the definitions included in the draft regulations and will be published shortly. The outcome of this consultation will not apply to the restrictions on the promotions of less healthy food and drink. The products in scope of the promotions restrictions were determined following a public consultation. These regulations will require medium and large businesses, including those with 50 or more employees, to restrict promotions on less healthy food and drink by volume price, such as ‘buy one get one free’ or ‘3 for 2’ offers and in key locations, such as checkouts, store entrances, aisle ends and online equivalents. The restrictions will come into force in October 2022

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Kim Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support research into intra-nasal covid-19 vaccines.

Maggie Throup: The Department commissions research through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). The NIHR and UK Research and Innovation have funded rapid research to support the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including on nasal administration of vaccines. Approximately £580,000 in funding was awarded to Imperial College London towards a study looking at safety and lower airway immunogenicity of two candidate COVID-19 vaccines administered to the respiratory tract. Additionally, the NIHR is providing infrastructure support to two phase one studies in this area, including the study at Imperial College London. As the largest public funder of health and care research, the NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including intra-nasal COVID-19 vaccines.

Coronavirus: Screening

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential saving to the public purse of suspending the covid-19 testing programme; and how much his Department has spent on that programme in each month since 1 January 2021.

Maggie Throup: No assessment has been made. From 1 April 2022, free universal access to lateral flow device tests for the public in England will end. We will continue to make free testing available for a small number of at risk groups. Further details on eligible groups will be made available in due course. Data on actual expenditure for the testing programme will be published as part of the Department’s annual accounts at the end of the financial year.

Refugees: Ukraine

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much additional funding the Government plans to allocate to local health services for each refugee who has arrived in the UK via the Homes for Ukraine or Ukraine Family Scheme.

Maria Caulfield: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Test and Trace Support Payment

Mr Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for what reason people who were tested at a covid-19 test site that used LAMP tests and subsequently tested positive are not eligible for Test and Trace Support Payments but people who received a positive result from a PCR test are eligible for those payments.

Maggie Throup: LAMP testing has not been used widely for the general public. However, the UK Health Security Agency informed local authorities that applicants who test positive for COVID-19 via this route should receive the £500 support payment, provided they met the other eligibility criteria. The scheme closed on 24 February 2022.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Sir Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the announcement by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency that stated the benefits of the vaccines outweigh the risks in the majority of people, what steps his Department is taking to help provide reassurance to people who may be concerned that they are in the minority where the risk of covid-19 vaccines outweigh the benefits.

Maggie Throup: Communications regarding COVID-19 vaccination include national awareness campaigns such as ‘Every Vaccine Gives Us Hope’ and ‘Get Boosted Now’ alongside tailored activity for specific groups such as young people and pregnant women. We are also working with local communities and leaders, as well regular providing information materials translated into 28 different languages.Health professionals can also provide advice for individuals regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. As with all vaccines, the COVID-19 vaccinations have been authorised by the independent regulator, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for effectiveness, safety and quality. The MHRA’s Yellow Card Reporting Scheme allows healthcare professionals and the public to report any suspected side effects following the administration of a medicine. This allows the MHRA to monitor the vaccines and respond to concerns identified, if appropriate. The UK Health Security Agency continuously monitors the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines using its existing surveillance systems and studies as well as new enhanced resources.For those unable to receive a COVID-19 vaccine or for whom vaccination is less effective, antiviral treatments are also available to provide an additional line of defence. Those whose immune system means they are at higher risk from COVID-19 who test positive for the virus can directly access COVID-19 treatments, through COVID Medicine Delivery Units.

Food: Advertising

Greg Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the fiscal impact of proposed restrictions on advertising and product offers for high fat, sugar and salt products in shops.

Maggie Throup: The impact assessments for further advertising restrictions and restricting promotions for products high in fat, salt or sugar show a positive net present value for each policy, meaning the health benefits outweigh the costs to business and the Government. The health benefits for advertising restrictions accrued when appraised over 100 years are estimated at approximately £2 billion. Additionally, the policy will provide savings for the National Health Service of £50 million, £40 million in social care and reduced premature mortality is expected to deliver an additional £119 million of economic output. Over the 25 year appraisal period, the location restrictions on promotions are expected to accrue health benefits of £57,600 million and provide savings to the NHS of £4,364 million. The volume price promotions restrictions are expected to accrue health benefits of £2,390 million and provide NHS savings of £180 million.

Mental Health Services: Refugees

Dr Rosena Allin-Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what mental health support his Department plans to provide for refugees entering the UK from Ukraine.

Maria Caulfield: NHS England and NHS Improvement are reviewing the implications of the Ukraine crisis in order to meet the needs of Ukrainian refugees and the diaspora in England. Those who are granted asylum, temporary protection or humanitarian protection under the Immigration Rules of section 3 of the Immigration Act 1971 is recognised as a refugee and able to access all health care services, including mental health care services, and are exempt from charges.

Mental Health Services: Refugees

Mike Amesbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of capacity in (a) child and (b) adult mental health services to treat Ukrainian refugees dealing with trauma.

Maria Caulfield: Ukrainian refugees will be guaranteed free access to National Health Service healthcare, including mental health services and registration with a general practitioner. Arrivals will be signposted to services including 24 hours a day, seven days a week mental health helplines and information on accessing talking therapies.

Health Services: Refugees

Ben Everitt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what healthcare (a) support and (b) facilities his Department will provide to Ukrainian refugees who arrive in the UK.

Maria Caulfield: The Department is working with NHS England and NHS Improvement and other Government Departments to ensure that Ukranian nationals arriving in the United Kingdom through the various schemes are signposted to registering with general practitioner.

Health Services and 
Social Services: Refugees

Mike Amesbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to offer health and social care services to Ukrainian refugees.

Maria Caulfield: The Department is working with NHS England and NHS Improvement and other Government Departments to ensure that Ukranian nationals arriving in the United Kingdom through the various schemes are signposted to registering with general practitioner.

Cancer: Patients

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that waiting times are reduced for cancer patients.

Maria Caulfield: The elective recovery delivery plan published in February 2022 sets out that by March 2023, the number of people waiting more than 62 days from a urgent referral for cancer will return to pre-pandemic levels. The National Health Service will ensure that 75% of patients who have been urgently referred by their general practitioner for suspected cancer will be diagnosed or have cancer ruled out within 28 days by March 2024.We have committed an additional £8 billion from 2022/23 to 2024/25, in addition to the £2 billion Elective Recovery Fund and £700 million targeted Investment Fund already made available, to increase elective activity, including cancer services.

Dental Services: Standards

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many dental practices by dental commissioning region achieved 65 per cent of their unit of dental activity targets in Quarter 3 of 2021-22.

Maria Caulfield: The information requested is not currently available as it is subject to adjustment resulting from the exceptional circumstances process at the end of the financial year. This includes adjustments for practices which have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sexually Transmitted Infections: Disease Control

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Government’s sexual health strategy will set aspirations to (a) reduce the R- rate of and (b) set reduction rate plans for (i) chlamydia, (ii) gonorrhoea and (iii) syphilis.

Maria Caulfield: We are developing a new Sexual and Reproductive Health Strategy for England, which will be published later this year. The Strategy will set out our plans to improve sexual and reproductive health outcomes and wellbeing, including tackling sexually transmitted infections (STIs). As part of the Strategy’s development process, we are currently considering the control of STIs. The reproduction or ‘R’ numbers for various STIs will not be included in the Strategy, as the R number for a typical STI differs from many other infections and cannot not easily measurable or generalised to the overall population. Factors include the population density of susceptible people, transmission probability per sexual partner and the number of sexual partners during a period of time, as well as the time spent in the infectious state.

Sheehan's Syndrome

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he has taken to (a) prevent and (b) support women with Sheehan’s syndrome.

Maria Caulfield: Sheehan’s syndrome is a rare condition in which severe bleeding during childbirth causes damage to the pituitary gland. The damage to pituitary tissue may result in pituitary hormone deficiencies. The treatment for women with Sheehan’s syndrome varies depending on the hormones that need to be replaced. Once diagnosis is confirmed, the treatment is life-long replacement of the hormones which are found to be deficient. This may take the form of hydrocortisone, thyroxine, oestrogen and rarely, growth hormone.The Department encourages maternity providers to follow national guidelines for the prevention and treatment of peripartum haemorrhage. The Department also encourages women to seek advice from their general practitioner or midwife if they have any concerns following a peripartum haemorrhage.

Dental Services: Equality

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment the Government has made of the dental health inequalities across England.

Maria Caulfield: ‘Inequalities in oral health in England’ was published in March 2021. The report found that there are inequalities in oral health in England across all stages of the life course and over different clinical indicators, such as dental decay and related quality of life measures. There are also inequalities in the availability and use of dental services across ages, sex, geographies and different social groups.

Department of Health and Social Care: Written Questions

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to respond to Question 132250 on North Tees and Hartlepool Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: Reorganisation tabled by the hon. Member for Stockton North on 1 March 2022.

Edward Argar: I refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question 132250.

Department of Health and Social Care: Written Questions

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to answer Question 119799, tabled on 7 February 2022 by the hon. Member for Oxford West and Abingdon.

Edward Argar: I refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question 119799.

Department of Health and Social Care: Written Questions

Dan Carden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when his Department plans to provide a substantive answer to Question 117041, tabled on 2 February 2022 by the hon Member for Liverpool, Walton.

Edward Argar: I refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question 117041.

Special Educational Needs: Coronavirus

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to protect clinically vulnerable people with special needs following the recent removal of covid-19 public health measures.

Maggie Throup: On 25 February 2022, updated public health advice was issued for those who were previously considered clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV), which is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19 This cohort is advised to follow general guidance to reduce their risk of infection, in addition to any further advice from their general practitioner or consultant. Updated guidance was also issued for those whose immune system means they are at higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19, which is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-people-whose-immune-system-means-they-are-at-higher-risk Enhanced protections offered by treatments, additional vaccinations and potentially other non-clinical interventions may also benefit those who are immunosuppressed.

Immunosuppression

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions he has had with patient groups representing people who have primary and secondary antibody deficiency.

Maggie Throup: The Chief Executive of the UK Health Security Agency, Dr Jenny Harries, is the clinical lead for the programmes supporting these patients and has met with charities at stakeholder engagement sessions. We will continue to meet with charities and stakeholders representing people whose immune system means they are at higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19.

Mental Health Services: Greater London

Bell Ribeiro-Addy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many mental health services have closed in (a) London, (b) Lambeth and (c) Streatham since 2010.

Gillian Keegan: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Hospitals: Visits

Mr Steve Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether people visiting (a) friends or (b) relatives in hospitals after 1 April 2022 will be entitled to free covid-19 lateral flow testing.

Maggie Throup: From 1 April 2022, free universal access to lateral flow device tests for the general public in England will end. There will be limited testing available to a number of at-risk groups. Further details on eligible groups will be made available in due course.

Coronavirus: Screening

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on public health of discontinuing free covid-19 tests.

Maggie Throup: From 1 April 2022, free universal access to symptomatic and asymptomatic testing for the general public in England will end. We will continue to make free testing available for a small number of at risk groups. Further details of eligible groups will be made available in due course.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is making provision for the collection of data on the prevalence of covid-19 under the strategy for living with coronavirus due to be announced by the Government on 21 February 2022.

Maggie Throup: The Government will continue to monitor COVID-19 cases, including using genomic sequencing, to allow insights into the evolution of the virus. The UK Health Security Agency will maintain scaled down surveillance capabilities including the COVID-19 Infection Survey population level survey, genomic sequencing and additional data. This will be augmented by continuing the SIREN and Vivaldi studies.

Office for National Statistics: Coronavirus

Sir Alan Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to continue funding for the Office of National Statistics’ weekly infection survey after April 2022.

Maggie Throup: The UK Health Security Agency will maintain surveillance capabilities, including the Office of National Statistics’ COVID-19 Infection Survey, genomic sequencing and additional data.

Immunosuppression: Coronavirus

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether revised covid-19 guidance will include an update on support for people who are immunosuppressed.

Maggie Throup: On 25 February 2022, the Government issued updated guidance for people whose immune system means they are at higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19, which is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-people-whose-immune-system-means-they-are-at-higher-riskEnhanced protections such as those offered by treatments, additional vaccinations and potentially other non-clinical interventions may also benefit those who are immunosuppressed.

Alimentum

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with relevant stakeholders on the recall of contaminated Alimentum formula.

Maggie Throup: The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is coordinating a multi-agency response regarding the recall of contaminated infant formula. The UKHSA is engaging with the Department, the Food Standards Agency, NHS England, local authorities and the devolved administrations.

Alimentum

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he has taken to effectively disseminate information about the recall of contaminated Alimentum formula to prescribing clinicians.

Maggie Throup: On 20 February 2022 the Food Standards Agency (FSA) published a product recall information notice (PRIN) for two infant formula products Elecare Similac and Alimentum Similac, due to concerns of possible contamination with Salmonella Newport. These products are produced in the United States of America and imported into the United Kingdom. The PRIN was updated on 22 February to include possible contamination with Cronobacter sakazakii.The FSA has published and disseminated advice to parents that anyone who has purchased or been prescribed any of the products included in the recall should not feed it to their baby and should return it to the place it was purchased or obtained. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has also shared information on the recall and asked healthcare professionals to contact all patients who have been dispensed the impacted batches immediately.On 4 March 2022, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued a National Patient Safety Alert to notify clinicians and ensure any affected products are safely disposed of in pharmacies and other settings, and that patients who have been prescribed these products are contacted. The UKHSA’s regional health protection teams and local authorities have been advised of the incident through the standard communication channels and active case finding is ongoing. The UKHSA is working with the Department, the FSA, NHS England, local authorities and the devolved administrations to ensure system-wide communications on the product recall.

Healthy Start Scheme

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what is the (a) average and (b) longest waiting time for service users calling the Healthy Start helpline.

Maggie Throup: From 1 November 2021 to 23 February 2022, the average waiting time was 12 minutes and 56 seconds and the longest waiting time was 1 hour 31 minutes and 54 seconds.

Coronavirus: Screening

Dr Rupa Huq: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of enabling access for people with health anxiety to free covid-19 lateral flow testing beyond April 2022.

Maggie Throup: From 1 April 2022, free universal access to lateral flow device tests for the public in England will end. We will continue to make testing available for a small number of at-risk groups. Further details on eligible groups will be available in due course. We continue to keep the impact of COVID-19 policies under review, including on those with health anxiety.

Coronavirus: Screening

Mr Steve Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will require all reporting of covid-19 PCR test results to include an estimated measure of viral burden.

Maggie Throup: We have no plans to do so. Cycle threshold (Ct) is a semi-quantitative value which can broadly categorise the concentration of viral genetic material in a patient sample as low, medium or high. The reporting of many laboratories, including the Lighthouse Laboratories, includes Ct values. However, a single Ct value in the absence of clinical context cannot be relied upon for decision making about a person’s infectivity. Ct values cannot be directly compared between assays of different types. Not all laboratories will use the same assay and some may use more than one.

Coronavirus: Screening

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to support employers, including health and care employers, with the cost of covid-19 testing after the suspension of NHS covid-19 testing from April 2022.

Maggie Throup: From 1 April 2022, free universal access to lateral flow device tests for the public in England will end. We will continue to make testing available for a small number of at risk groups. Further details on eligible groups will be made available in due course.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he will take to help protect people the most clinically vulnerable people from covid-19 once all covid-19 restrictions have been removed.

Maggie Throup: On 25 February 2022, updated public health advice was issued for those previously considered as clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV), which is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19 Most people considered as CEV are advised to follow general guidance, in addition to any further advice from their general practitioner or consultant. Guidance was also issued for those whose immune system means they are at higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19, which is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-people-whose-immune-system-means-they-are-at-higher-risk Enhanced protections such as those offered by treatments, additional vaccinations and potentially other non-clinical interventions may benefit this cohort.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Coronavirus

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether individuals with a diagnosis of (a) myalgic encephalomyelitis or (b) chronic fatigue syndrome will classified as vulnerable for the purposes of the allocation of free covid-19 tests.

Maggie Throup: From 1 April 2022, free universal access to lateral flow device tests for the public in England will end. We will continue to make testing available for a small number of at risk groups. Further details on eligible groups will be made available in due course.

Coronavirus: Screening

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how people on low incomes will be able to access tests for covid-19 after NHS testing ends on 1 April 2022.

Maggie Throup: From 1 April 2022, free universal access to lateral flow device tests for the public in England will end. We will continue to make testing available for a small number of at risk groups. Further details on eligible groups will be made available in due course. We will continue to keep the impact of COVID-19 policies under review, including on people on low incomes.

Coronavirus: Screening

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the average cost of one seven day test covid-19 testing kit was in the last six months for which data is available.

Maggie Throup: We are unable to provide the information requested as it is commercially sensitive.

NHS Covid Pass

Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to work with the devolved Administrations to ensure consistency in how third and booster covid-19 doses are displayed on NHS Covid Passes across the UK while they remain essential for admission to many other countries.

Maggie Throup: We continue to ensure agreement between the devolved administrations to maintain consistency in the designs of the digital and non-digital NHS Covid Pass which meet international standards and domestic requirements. This includes working with the Welsh Government, as the digital service through NHS.UK is provided by England to Wales. There is United Kingdom-wide alignment on the display of third doses in the NHS COVID Pass.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans the Government has for the reintroduction of (a) free covid-19 testing and (b) social distancing guidance in the event that the number of hospital admissions due to covid-19 increase.

Maggie Throup: We will retain the capacity to reintroduce mass testing in the event that a dangerous variant of concern emerges. There are no plans to reintroduce social distancing guidance. The Government would only consider implementing restrictions in extreme circumstances to prevent unsustainable pressure on the National Health Service and excessive mortality.

Immunosuppression: Coronavirus

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance his Department plans to issue on protecting immunosuppressed and clinically extremely vulnerable people from covid-19 in the workplace after 1 April 2022.

Maggie Throup: On 25 February 2022, updated public health advice was issued for those previously considered as clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV), which is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19 Most people considered as CEV are advised to follow general guidance, in addition to any further advice from their general practitioner or consultant. Guidance was also issued for those whose immune system means they are at higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19, which is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-people-whose-immune-system-means-they-are-at-higher-risk Enhanced protections such as those offered by treatments, additional vaccinations and potentially other non-clinical interventions may benefit this cohort. For workplace concerns, people should speak to their employer about what arrangements can be made to reduce their risk.

Food: Children

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help ensure that every child has access to healthy food.

Maggie Throup: The Healthy Start scheme helps to encourage a healthy diet for pregnant women, babies and young children under four from very low-income households. It provides a payment card which may be used to purchase fruit, vegetables, pulses, milk and infant formula. Beneficiaries also receive free vitamins.The Nursery Milk Scheme provides reimbursement to childcare providers for a daily one-third pint portion of milk for children under the age of five years old who attend a childcare setting for more than two hours a day. The School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme provides approximately 2.2 million children in Key Stage 1 with a portion of fresh fruit or vegetables each day at school. Schools are encouraged to use the Scheme as an opportunity to educate children about fruit and vegetables and to encourage the consumption of a healthy, balanced diet.

Healthy Start Scheme

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many families in receipt of Healthy Start Vouchers whose circumstances have not changed have been unable to transition to the Healthy Start card due to the online system declaring them ineligible.

Maggie Throup: The NHS Business Services Authority does not collect the information requested. Existing Healthy Start beneficiaries who believe they are eligible and have had an unsuccessful online application are encouraged to apply again.

Eating Disorders: Diagnosis

Dr Rupa Huq: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help ensure that all future doctors are equipped to identify the (a) early signs and (b) symptoms of an eating disorder.

Gillian Keegan: The Department is engaging with partners through a delivery group led by NHS England and NHS Improvement. This includes working with Health Education England to improve training for general practitioners and with the General Medical Council (GMC) to ensure eating disorders are included amongst outcome measures for newly qualified clinicians. Health Education England is developing training for primary care staff and others who come into contact with people with an eating disorder.The GMC’s Outcomes for Graduates states that newly qualified doctors must illustrate their understanding of safe management and referral of patients with mental health conditions, including eating disorders. The GMC has also commissioned the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges to work with medical colleges on curricula content, aiming to ensure high standards in core clinical areas, which includes eating disorders as a priority.

Attorney General

War Crimes: Russia

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney General, if she will publish the joint statement she signed with Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova on UK support in holding Russia accountable for the crimes that it is committing on Ukrainian soil.

Alex Chalk: The Memorandum of Cooperation signed by the Attorney General and the Ukrainian Prosecutor General was published on Gov.uk on the 13th of March 2022. The Memorandum is available here.

Department for Education

Higher Education: Standards

Matt Western: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how his Department defines value for money in relation to the provision of higher education teaching and research.

Michelle Donelan: The government is committed to ensuring that students and the taxpayer see returns on their investments. We are tackling low-quality provision that results in unsatisfactory outcomes for students, as well as ensuring the sustainability of our world-class higher education (HE) system.The Higher Education and Research Act 2017 sets out the Office for Students' (OfS) duty to promote value for money in the provision of HE. Accordingly, the department is working with the OfS to introduce a more rigorous and effective quality regime. This includes, for the first time, setting stringent minimum numerical thresholds for student outcomes, on which the OfS is currently consulting, and measures to ensure providers deliver a high-quality academic experience.In addition, as part of the department’s HE reform agenda, the government is consulting openly on policies that will help to ensure every student can have confidence they are on a high-quality course that will lead to good outcomes, as well as securing a fairer detail for the taxpayer. This includes proposals on student number controls, which are set out in detail in the consultation document, which is accessible here: https://consult.education.gov.uk/higher-education-reform/higher-education-he-reform/supporting_documents/HE_reform_commandpaperprint_version.pdf.The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) is responsible for overseeing HE research. BEIS funding supports a diversity of internationally competitive and highly cited worldwide university research. This research delivers benefits to the economy and society, both nationally and internationally. It also supports a vibrant, collaborative, and open research culture, as well as the development of a skilled research workforce.

Higher Education: Russia

Matt Western: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to ensure that the higher education sector is not used as a mechanism by which Russian oligarchs with links to President Putin can legitimise their wealth.

Michelle Donelan: As set out in legislation, universities must follow the same rules regulating the flow of foreign money and sanctions as other businesses. Universities will be bound by new rules restricting Russian investment in line with other British businesses. The department expects universities to complete due diligence processes to consider reputational, ethical, and security risks. Any higher education provider seeking to enrol students of any nationality should be aware of the prohibitions of making funds or economic resources, either directly or indirectly, available for the benefit of anyone subject to financial sanctions. This is in addition to any services provided while completing an education programme run by the higher education provider. The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation continues to engage with stakeholders during this period and is monitoring the situation closely.

Erasmus+ Programme: Turing Scheme

Owen Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he plans to take to bring funding levels in the Turing Scheme to an equivalent level with Erasmus+.

Owen Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will introduce funding for staff exchange opportunities as part of the Turing Scheme.

Alex Burghart: The UK’s international mobility programme, the Turing Scheme, is funded by a budget of £110 million for the 2021/22 academic year. Education providers successfully applied for funding for over 41,000 individual placements for their students to study and work around the world. The government has also confirmed funding for the continuation of the Turing Scheme for the next 3 years, including £110 million for the 2022/23 academic year.The UK is not participating in the 2021 to 2027 Erasmus+ programme. A direct comparison with overall funding for the Turing Scheme and the 2014 to 2020 Erasmus+ programme cannot be made as both programmes cover different activities and types of mobilities.However, in terms of grant funding the Turing Scheme provides rates for providers and students that are broadly consistent with what would have been received under the 2014 to 2020 Erasmus+ Programme. To support levelling up, the Turing Scheme also goes further in some areas to provide additional support for disadvantaged students and students with special educational needs and disabilities.Unlike Erasmus+, which was mainly EU focused, the Turing Scheme is also a truly global programme with every country in the world eligible to partner with UK education settings subject to government travel advice. For the 2021/22 academic year, providers successfully applied for mobilities to over 150 destinations worldwide.In considering what elements to include under the Turing Scheme, the department prioritised pupils, students, and learners over staff placements to ensure that as many students as possible can benefit. This includes a focus on widening access for disadvantaged students.

Department for Education: Zero Hours Contracts

Matt Western: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether his Department employs staff on zero-hours contracts as at 15 March 2022.

Michelle Donelan: The department does not have any employees on zero hours contracts.

Children in Care

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when his Department plans to publish an update to its transparency data, Looked after children in independent or semi-independent placements.

Will Quince: The transparency data ‘Looked after children in independent or semi-independent placements’ was initially published on 12 February 2020, alongside independent research commissioned by the department into the use of unregulated and unregistered provision for children in care. The documents can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/864075/Looked_after_children_in_independent_or_semi-independent_placements_Feb_2020.pdf and here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/use-of-unregulated-and-unregistered-provision-for-children-in-care.These publications provided important context to the government consultation ‘Reforms to unregulated provision for children in care and care leavers’ which was published on the same date, and asked for views on proposals to reform the use of this provision. This publication is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/unregulated-provision-for-children-in-care-and-care-leavers. This transparency data was an ad-hoc release and, as confirmed in the report, will not be produced annually. The department published a further suite of transparency data on 19 February 2021, available here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/960067/Looked_after_children_aged_under_16_in_unregulated_placements.pdf. This provided details on the use of independent and semi-independent accommodation specifically for children under the age of 16 and was published to assist local authorities to prepare for a ban on the placement of under 16s in these placements from 9 September 2021. This was also an ad-hoc release and, as confirmed in the report, will not be produced annually. The looked after children in independent and semi-independent settings data that is published annually by the department is available here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/children-looked-after-in-england-including-adoptions/2020.

Children in Care: Ethnic Groups

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will publish the latest available statistics on the proportion of looked-after 16-17 year-olds living in (a) independent or semi-independent accommodation and (b) all care settings that are from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds.

Will Quince: The total number of children looked after aged 16-17 from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds who lived in independent or semi-independent accommodation on 31 March 2021 was 2,970 (which represents 50% of the children looked after population aged 16-17 who lived in independent or semi-independent accommodation). The number of children from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds from this age cohort who lived in all care settings on 31 March 2021 was 6,910 (which represents 37% of the children looked after population aged 16-17).Figures on children looked after for all ages by ethnicity and placement type were published in the Statistical Release ‘Children looked after in England, including adoption: 2020 to 2021', which is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/children-looked-after-in-england-including-adoption-2020-to-2021.

Uni Connect Programme

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, assessment he has made of the value of Uni Connect to higher education outreach.

Alex Burghart: The Uni Connect programme, operated by the Office for Students (OfS), brings together 29 partnerships of universities, colleges, and other local partners. It offers activities, advice, and information on the benefits and realities of going to university or college in areas of low or unexplained gaps in higher education participation.Uni Connect was set up in 2017 as a four-year programme to support the government’s social mobility goals. This was to rapidly increase the number of young people from underrepresented groups going into higher education.Since its establishment, the programme has played a successful role in supporting local partnerships, engaging hard to reach students, and targeting cold spots in outreach effectively.The OfS consulted on a new approach to the Uni Connect programme from academic year 2021/22 to 2024/25. Proposals set out a future approach to targeting high-priority schools and colleges and giving greater focus to progression from non-traditional routes into and through higher education, including through further education and among mature learners. Further information on the consultation is available here: https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/publications/consultation-on-new-approach-to-uni-connect/.In spring 2021, the OfS also consulted on their approach to recurrent funding. Their consultation response was published in July 2021, available here: https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/media/c7329f54-2668-431e-ba14-616892a26586/recurrent_funding_2021_22_outcomes_of_consultation_final_for_web.pdf. It concluded that the Uni Connect partnerships could continue to meet the OfS’s goals through a combination of increased efficiency and a focus on the most effective interventions.

Schools: Discipline

Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will list all schools taking part in the Behaviour Hubs programme.

Mr Robin Walker: The 22 lead schools and 2 lead multi-academy trusts (MATs) taking part in the behaviour hubs programme are published on the behaviour hubs website at: https://behaviourhubs.co.uk/current-lead-schools-mats/.Recruitment for a further 28 lead schools and 8 MATs has now concluded, and an announcement regarding successful applicants will be made before the end of April 2022.All partner schools self-refer to the behaviour hubs programme. To date, we have received 471 applications to be partner schools or partner MATs. There are currently no plans for the department to formally release the names of partner schools on the programme.

Special Educational Needs: Teachers

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the finding of research conducted by Sense that 52 per cent of local authorities do not employ multi-sensory impairment (MSI) teachers, if his Department will create a MSI education fund for local authorities to employ MSI teachers.

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the finding of research conducted by Sense that 52 per cent of local authorities do not employ multi-sensory impairment (MSI) teachers, what plans his Department has to support children with MSI.

Will Quince: Education is a devolved matter, and the response will outline the information for England only.The department is firmly committed to ensuring that children with special educational needs and disabilities, including those with multi-sensory impairments, receive the support they need to achieve in their early years, at school and college. Local authorities in England are required to publish information on the availability of specialist services and support commissioned and provided for children and young people with multi-sensory impairments in a local offer. To ensure local needs are met, they must work with children, young people, and their families to develop this. On the issue of funding for local authorities to support children with multi-sensory impairments, I refer the hon. Member for Strangford to the answer I gave on 8 March 2022 to Question 133247.

Uni Connect Programme: Finance

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to ensure that Uni Connect receives its funding on time for the financial year 20220-23.

Alex Burghart: The Uni Connect programme’s annual funding allocation is made within the available Strategic Priorities Grant, and as such is subject to annual review and decision-making, with due regard for general duties, the public sector equality duty, and statutory guidance. We will shortly be issuing guidance to the Office for Students on priorities for the Strategic Priorities Grant for financial year 2022/23.

Overseas Students: Ukraine

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will make funding available for Ukrainian sponsored students studying in the UK to assist with accommodation costs.

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will ensure that students from Ukraine studying in the UK will be able to complete those Further and Higher Education which they have begun.

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will provide universities additional funding to support (a) existing Ukrainian students and (b) students arriving in the UK from Ukraine to continue their studies.

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is putting in place to help ensure that Ukrainian students who have been studying in the UK are able to continue with a degree or FE course at a university or college.

Michelle Donelan: Alongside our allies, we are united in support for Ukraine. The department has been working closely with the education sector and across government more widely to ensure that Ukrainian students are supported during this difficult time. The government is considering how best to support these students continue their education.This includes a visa option from the Home Office for Ukrainian nationals, including students, that will provide them with an opportunity to extend their leave or switch to a Graduate visa without having to leave the country. The homes for Ukraine scheme has now been launched and FAQs can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/homes-for-ukraine-scheme-frequently-asked-questions. The scheme opened on Friday 18 March for applications from Ukrainians and immediate family members who already have named people willing to sponsor them.I reconvened the HE Taskforce, bringing together representatives from across the sector to discuss how we can best work together to support Ukrainian students at this challenging time.We continue to encourage higher education providers to use hardship funding to support students from Ukraine where they are facing challenges, to ensure support is given where it is most needed.To allow flexibility in dealing with the circumstances of individual applicants, higher education providers have the discretion to waive or reduce fees where they consider it appropriate to do so.The government will look to support Ukrainian students as they reassess their options in the UK.

Ministry of Justice

Offenders: Unpaid Work

Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many offenders handed down unpaid work as part of a community service sentences did not complete their sentence because they did not present themselves for unpaid work, in the latest period for which data is available.

Kit Malthouse: The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Open Prisons: Prisoners' Release

Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what data his Department holds on the number of offenders temporarily released from each open prison in England and Wales by offender type in each of the last five years.

Kit Malthouse: The attached table gives the number of releases on ROTL from each prison with a predominant “open” function, by offender type. One prisoner may be released on several occasions throughout a year and this table shows the total number of releases, not the number of prisoners released. By providing opportunities to work, learn and build family ties, temporary release from prison helps prevent offenders from returning to crime when they leave prison. The evidence shows that increased access to ROTL by suitable offenders helps to reduce re-offending, and the ROTL compliance rate is well over 99%. Prisoners can apply for release on temporary licence, but it does not mean it will be granted. The safety of the public is the overriding concern and anyone who is released on temporary licence is carefully risk-assessed, liable to monitoring, and can be immediately returned to a closed prison if they fail to obey strict conditions.142456_table (xlsx, 22.7KB)

Probation

Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many offenders have been managed by the probation service per probation region, by type of offender, in each year since 2017.

Kit Malthouse: Data on the number of offenders supervised by National Probation Service region and Community Rehabilitation Company (CRC) and broken down by supervision type are published as part of the Offender Management Statistics Quarterly publication by the Ministry of Justice (Offender management statistics quarterly - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

Fraud: Trials

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many (a) total and (b) effective trials for fraud offences there were in each year since 2017.

James Cartlidge: The Ministry of Justice has published quarterly trial volumes in England & Wales up to Q3 2021 in the ‘Trial effectiveness at the criminal courts tool’, available at the following link: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1047818/trials_tool.xlsx. The pivot table linked above provides quarterly figures for number of trials by court type, whether a trial was effective, cracked or ineffective, the reason for the outcome, and vacated trials, offence group, region, LCJB area, crown court/LJA, year and quarter. The data requested is available through this table.

Barristers: Fees and Charges

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what data his Department holds on the level of criminal barrister fee income paid from the public purse in financial year (a) 2019-20 and (b) 2020-21.

James Cartlidge: The amount spent from the public purse by the Secretary of State for Justice on criminal barrister fee income in financial years 2019-20 and 2020-21 can be found in the table below: Financial YearAmount, £m2019-20182.502020-21111.99 The data in the tables includes payments exclusive of VAT and disbursements paid to barristers under the Advocates’ Graduated Fee Scheme and Very High Cost Case Scheme for barristers only. For work in the magistrates’ courts barrister fees are subject to agreement and payment by the instructing solicitor.The decline in expenditure is due to the impact of COVID-19 on the court system, which slowed the rate at which new cases are disposed of by the courts and claims for final payment can be submitted.Statistics on legal aid volumes and expenditure are published at: Legal aid statistics: July to September 2021 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) and are updated on a quarterly basis. The most recent period for which data is available covers up to and including September 2021 and can be found at table 4.3. Figures for the final quarter of the present financial year are not due to be published until 30 June 2022.

Courts: ICT

Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the number of cases delayed by issues within the Common Platform prior to the pause in its use in summer 2021.

James Cartlidge: During the summer of 2021 prior to the pause of the Common Platform roll out, users were reporting some issues in respect of system slowness but which did not prevent them from being able to handle all cases that had been listed within the court sessions. Any issues were identified, mitigated and resolved and if any technical errors were identified, cases were handled using the usual business continuity process.

Prisoners

Sir Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 15 March 2022 to Question 137967, on Prisoners: Food, whether prisoner A5586CP has been categorised as at risk.

Victoria Atkins: I will write to the honourable member in due course.

Domestic Abuse

Alex Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to section 83 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, what the status is of report on the extent to which people using contact centres in England are protected from the risk of domestic abuse or other harm as of 16 March 2022.

Victoria Atkins: The Government is on track to publish a report about the extent to which individuals, when they are using contact centres in England, are protected from the risk of domestic abuse or, in the case of children, other harm. This will be delivered by April 2023 as set out in section 83 of the Domestic Abuse Act.

Legal Ombudsman: Correspondence

Sarah Olney: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of adequacy of the time taken for the legal ombudsman to respond to complaints.

Sarah Olney: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to reduce waiting times for responses to complaints to the legal ombudsman.

James Cartlidge: We know that the performance of the Legal Ombudsman scheme (LeO), including around responding to complaints, has been below expectations.The Office for Legal Complaints (OLC) has developed a two-year recovery plan (2021/22 and 2022/23) to address performance issues, which includes reducing waiting times. The plan comprises a number of different elements, including automation, new people strategies and consulting on changes to the scheme rules to improve customer experience. Alongside ‘Early resolution’ and ‘Proportionality’ pilot initiatives, the OLC has also recently carried out a successful national recruitment campaign to boost its capacity.Performance of the Legal Ombudsman (LeO) scheme is monitored on a regular basis by the Ministry of Justice.

Ministry of Justice: Remote Working

Rachel Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the impact of increased homeworking during the covid-19 outbreak on his Department’s carbon footprint.

James Cartlidge: The Department monitors and reports on its greenhouse gas emissions - information on this is published in the Greening Government Commitments Annual Report.

Crown Court: Standards

Mr Gagan Mohindra: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the size of the backlog of cases in crown courts.

James Cartlidge: There will always be outstanding cases in the Crown Court as these figures include cases that are being prepared to be heard in the courts. The outstanding caseload in the Crown Court reduced from around 61,000 cases in June 2021 to around 58,993 cases at the end of January 2022. The Government is committed to supporting the recovery of the courts. We have extended 30 Nightingale courtrooms beyond the end of March 2022 and removed the limit on the number of days the Crown Court can sit in the 2021/22 financial year. To secure enough capacity to sit at the required levels in 2022/23 and beyond we are expanding our plans for judicial recruitment. To provide additional capacity in the Crown Courts we are extending magistrates’ court sentencing powers from 6 to 12 months’ imprisonment for a single Triable Either Way offence to allow more cases to be heard in the magistrates’ court and help to drive down the backlog of cases over the coming years. These measures are already working, and as a result we expect to get through 20% more Crown Court cases this financial year than we did pre-Covid. Following an increase in funding as part of the Ministry of Justice’s Spending Review settlement, we aim to reduce the number of outstanding cases in the Crown Court to 53,000 by March 2025.

Department for International Trade

Trade: Russia

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if she will take to scrutinise the trading relationships of British businesses which are registered overseas with Russia.

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps she is taking to ensure that international companies withdraw their trade from Russia.

Mike Freer: We have announced the strongest set of economic sanctions ever imposed against a major economy, which will help cripple Putin’s war machine. The UK has targeted the political elite, introduced powers to cut off the Russian banking sector from the UK, and announced restrictive trade measures to minimise the funding Putin has available to wage his illegal war.We have welcomed commitments made by firms who have announced their intention to reduce or sell holdings in Russia. We urge firms to think carefully about their investments in Russia.

Department for International Trade: Remote Working

Rachel Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment she has made of the impact of increased homeworking during the covid-19 outbreak on her Department’s carbon footprint.

Penny Mordaunt: The Department monitors and reports on its greenhouse gas emissions - information on this is published in the Greening Government Commitments Annual Report. More information is available here - https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/greening-government-commitments

Department for International Trade: Carbon Emissions

Rachel Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether her Department has published a plan setting out the steps it plans to take to transition to net zero emissions.

Penny Mordaunt: The Department is committed to reducing emissions and energy consumption wherever possible, as part of the UK’s transition to net zero. The Department’s current targets to make progress on reducing emissions have been published, as part of the Greening Government Commitments - https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/greening-government-commitments#annual-reports The Government published the Net Zero Strategy in October 2021, which sets out policies and proposals for decarbonising all sectors of the UK economy to meet our net zero target by 2050 - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/net-zero-strategy

Pesticides: Exports

Ruth Cadbury: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what recent discussions she has had with officials in the (a) Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and (b) Health and Safety Executive on the export of pesticides banned for domestic use in the UK.

Mike Freer: My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade has had no discussions with officials in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Health and Safety Executive on the export of pesticides banned for domestic use in the UK.

Leader of the House

Members: Employment

Owen Thompson: To ask the Leader of the House of Commons, whether he has plans to make an assessment of the potential merits of further methods of placing fixed constraints on the amount of time that hon. Members spend on outside work.

Mark Spencer: The regulation of the amount of time that Members spend on outside work is a matter for the whole House to consider on a cross-party basis. The Standards Committee is likely to bring forward recommendations on this as part of its inquiry into the Code of Conduct and we await the Committee’s final report with interest.The Government firmly believes that an MP’s primary job is and must be to serve their constituents and represent their interests in Parliament. That is why the Government brought forward an amendment (which the House approved on 17 November 2021) to support the introduction of limits on Members undertaking outside work. These were that MPs should be prohibited from any paid work to provide services as a parliamentary strategist, adviser or consultant and that outside work should be undertaken only within “reasonable limits”.

Ministry of Defence

Ajax Vehicles

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to paragraph 2.7 of the report by the National Audit Office, The Ajax programme, published on 11 March 2022, whether his Department took steps after the Infrastructure and Projects Authority raised concerns about the size of the programme team in 2017.

Jeremy Quin: From Quarter three of financial year 2016-17, there was a gradual increase to the Ajax Programme Team structure which saw seven posts added over the next year. As with any programme, the resource requirement will of course change over time to meet the complexity and demands of the programme. In 2019, following the recast of the contract, the team was reduced. The programme team structure has continued to evolve and, when necessary, increase. It now sits at its largest ever size.

Ajax Vehicles

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 9 of the NAO's report entitled The Ajax Programme, which body is responsible for the Quarterly Programme reports; and for what reason those reports did not include reference to noise and vibration issues until March 2021.

Jeremy Quin: The quarterly programme reports are prepared by the Army Programme Office on behalf of the SRO. It is normal for a programme to be dealing with and overcoming technical challenges such as noise and vibration in the demonstration phase. However, the Ajax noise and vibration safety review, published on 15 December 2021, found that safety risk was not being systemically managed within the Army trials, with ineffective risk escalation mechanisms. It found that from 2018 onwards, instances of noise and vibration were not reported through a single coherent system, potentially impeding the ability to investigate and build a trend-based picture of noise and vibration. We have accepted and are in the process of implementing the recommendations of the review aimed at ensuring this does not happen again.

National Flagship: Costs

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has made an estimate of the annual running costs of supporting the National Flagship, including staffing.

Mr Ben Wallace: The National Flagship is a cross-government platform. Annual running costs, including crewing, are being refined within the business model; this will be finalised as part of the next spending review.

Armed Forces: Protective Clothing

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to ensure that all Armed Forces personal protective equipment can be provided to Ukraine.

James Heappey: We are committed to donating further quantities of personal protective equipment to Ukraine. This equipment is drawn from stockpiles and all options are being considered which do not adversely impact on the UK's own reserves.To date, the UK has provided some 3,000 sets of body armour to Ukraine. We have also provided 2,000 helmets, 4,000 cold weather boots and 75,000 ear defenders.We continue to work with Allies and partners to prioritise and coordinate the provision and delivery of defensive aid in response to Ukrainian requests for assistance. We will continue to do all we can to support Ukraine against Russian aggression.

Afghanistan: Armed Forces

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Officer Cadets from Afghanistan attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst between 1975 and the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021.

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Afghan graduates of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst were evacuated under Op Pitting and now reside in the UK; and what proportion of these were accompanied by family members or dependants.

James Heappey: The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) is proud of its illustrious history of training Officer Cadets (OCdts) from Afghanistan, with 74 having attended between 1975 and August 2021. All eligible Afghans who attended RMAS were granted sponsorship under Operation PITTING, including those who did not complete the Commissioning Course and those who commenced training after August 2021. However, due to the volume and complexity of relocation applications, it is not currently possible to confirm how many of the OCdts or their dependants were evacuated and are now residing in the UK. The Defence Afghan Relocation and Resettlement team continue to work closely with RMAS to provide support to all eligible Afghan OCdts who are entitled to relocate to the UK.

Veterans: Railways

Jack Lopresti: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to accelerate the process for veterans to obtain a certificate of service to enable them to apply for a veterans railcard.

Leo Docherty: All Service leavers are provided with a Certificate of Service as part of the discharge process. Should a veteran require a replacement for any reason, they can simply request a replacement by phoning the Joint Personnel Administration Call Centre (JPAC) on 0800 085 3600 and a replacement is issued free of charge usually within two to five working days of the request.

Ukraine: Humanitarian Aid

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reason the Humanitarian Assistance Task Force of 1,000 soldiers has not been deployed to assist in Ukraine and the surrounding region as of 14 March 2022.

James Heappey: 234 soldiers are deployed to Poland in support of the Home Office and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. They are assisting in building resilience in the United Kingdom's consular and immigration facilities. The remainder of the Humanitarian Assistance Task Force remains at high readiness to deploy if required.

Department for Work and Pensions

Carers: Cost of Living

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she plans to take steps to support unpaid carers with the recent increase in the cost of living.

Chloe Smith: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Means-tested Benefits: Homes for Ukraine Scheme

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the £350 payments made under the Homes for Ukraine scheme will be treated as an income for means tested benefits.

David Rutley: We are ensuring that those who have stepped up to sponsor a Ukrainian individual or family do not see their household benefit entitlements affected as a result. Payment of the £350 ‘thank you’ payment can be disregarded as a payment of local welfare provision made by local authorities.

Universal Credit: Uprating

Darren Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of uprating universal credit in line with the ONS HCI benchmarks for low-income households when it is published in May 2022.

David Rutley: There are currently no plans to use Office for National Statistics Household Cost Indices to up-rate Universal Credit. The Household Cost Indices to be published by Office for National Statistics in May are experimental statistics and still in development.The Secretary of State undertakes an annual review of benefits and pensions, and the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) in the year to September this approach has been in place since 1987 is the latest figure that the Secretary of State can use to allow sufficient time for the required legislative and operational changes before new rates can be introduced at the start of the new financial year.CPI has been the default inflation measure for the government’s statutory annual review of benefits since 2011.CPI has a basket of goods and services that is relevant to pensioners and benefit recipients, is the target level of inflation used by the Bank of England and is an internationally recognised measure.

Social Security Benefits: Homes for Ukraine Scheme

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the £350 allowance payable to hosts in the Homes for Ukraine scheme will be (a) treated as earned income, (b) treated as unearned income or (c) disregarded for the purposes of (i) universal credit, (ii) employment and support allowance, (iii) jobseeker's allowance, (iv) pension credit, (v) carers allowance and (vi) housing benefit.

David Rutley: We are ensuring those who have stepped up to sponsor a Ukrainian individual or family do not see their household benefit entitlements affected as a result. Payment of the £350 ‘thank you’ payment will not be counted as income for the purpose of calculating benefit entitlement.

Poverty: Children

Darren Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment her Department has made of the levels of child poverty in Bristol North West in the context of the decision to uprate universal credit by 3.1 per cent.

David Rutley: No assessment has been made. The latest statistics on the number and proportion of children who are in low income families by local area, covering the six years, 2014/15 to 2019/20, can be found in the annual publication: Children in low income families: local area statistics 2014 to 2020 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)(opens in a new tab). This Government is committed to reducing child poverty and supporting all low-income families, and believes work is the best route out of poverty. In 2019/20, children in households where all adults were in work were around six times less likely to be in absolute poverty (before housing costs) than children in a household where nobody works. We are giving the lowest earners a pay rise by increasing the National Living Wage by 6.6% to £9.50 from April 2022, and making permanent changes to Universal Credit, worth £1000 a year on average, to two million in-work claimants. To support low income families further, we have increased the value of Healthy Start Food Vouchers to £4.25, helping eligible low income households buy basic foods like milk, fruit and vitamins. We are also investing over £200m a year from 2022, to continue our Holiday Activities and Food programme which is already providing enriching activities and healthy meals to children in all English Local Authorities. The Chancellor has extended the Household Support Fund to £1 billion to help vulnerable families.

Refugees: Ukraine

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether Ukrainian refugees will be able to claim assistance with housing costs in their universal credit claim or claim housing benefit, including in circumstances where a sponsor is receiving the £350 per month support package.

David Rutley: Sponsors for the Homes for Ukraine scheme should not charge rent to the people they are hosting. We appreciate people’s generosity and we know there will be costs associated with helping out, so we are offering an optional ‘thank you’ payment of £350 per month to sponsors. Ukrainian evacuees who are supported through the Homes for Ukraine scheme will be able to apply for housing costs support in Housing Benefit or Universal Credit if they have a rental liability when they move on from the scheme.

Universal Credit: Uprating

Darren Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what her Department's rationale is for the decision to uprate universal credit by September 2021's three per cent Consumer Price Index (CPI) benchmark when CPI is expected to exceed six per cent at the point that policy is implemented.

David Rutley: The Secretary of State undertakes an annual review of benefits and pensions. CPI in the year to September (published by the Office for National Statistics in October) is the latest figure the Secretary of State can use to allow sufficient time for the required legislative and operational changes to be made before new rates can be introduced at the start of the new financial year.All benefit up-rating since April 1987 has been based on the increase in the relevant price inflation index in the 12 months to the previous September, as happens now. Using the same benchmark every year ensures consistency over time, allowing uprating to balance out over a number of years.For up-rating 2022/23 the Secretary of State announced the outcome of her annual review to Parliament on 25 November 2021 and from April 2022 benefits and pensions will increase by 3.1%.

Carers' Benefits

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make it her policy to provide all carers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland with an equivalent entitlement to the carer’s allowance supplement provided to carers in Scotland since 2018; and if she will make a statement.

Chloe Smith: Carer’s Allowance is a devolved benefit under the Scotland Act 2016. The Scottish Government pays a Supplement to all its recipients, regardless of their means. The UK Government takes a different approach and directs more of its financial support across Great Britain towards carers on the lowest incomes. For example, carers in receipt of Universal Credit can receive around an additional £1,965 a year through the Carer Element. Social security is a transferred matter in Northern Ireland.

Social Security Benefits: Appeals

Kirsten Oswald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of people who registered an appeal against their benefit decision in the most recent 12 month period for which data is available, were awarded benefit at the first stage of appeal, by parliamentary constituency.

Kirsten Oswald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people and what proportion of people who appealed to a tribunal against a benefit decision in the most recent 12-month period for which data are available were awarded benefit by the tribunal, by parliamentary constituency.

Chloe Smith: The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Employment and Support Allowance: Homes for Ukraine Scheme

Marco Longhi: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether people in receipt of Employment and Support Allowance will face any deductions to their benefits in the event that they support a Ukrainian refugee under the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

Chloe Smith: The Government is grateful to individuals who wish to play their part in supporting Homes for Ukraine. DWP is working at pace with DLUHC and the Home Office to ensure benefit claimants who feel they can support the scheme are able to do so.

Personal Independence Payment: Medical Examinations

Damien Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that PIP claimants with long term disabilities are not required to undergo the reassessment process in cases where their conditions and care needs have not changed since their last assessment.

Chloe Smith: Once someone has been awarded Personal Independence Payment (PIP), which can be paid at one of eight rates, that award will usually be reviewed. Regular reviews are a key feature of the benefit and ensure that payments accurately match the current needs of claimants. The length of an award is based on an individual’s circumstances and can vary from nine months to an on-going award, with a light touch review after ten years. In 2018 we introduced updated guidance for case managers which ensures that those people who receive the highest level of support under PIP, and where their needs are unlikely to change or may get worse, will receive an ongoing award with a light touch review at the ten-year point. We also announced in the Shaping Future Support: Health and Disability Green Paper that we will test a new Severe Disability Group (SDG) so that those with severe and lifelong conditions can benefit from a simplified process to access PIP, Employment and Support Allowance and Universal Credit without needing to go through a face-to-face assessment or frequent reviews.

Pension Funds: Infrastructure and Small Businesses

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will set out the Government's rationale for weakening the consumer price cap on pensions used for automatic enrolment to encourage investment in infrastructure and smaller companies.

Guy Opperman: On 30 November 2021 the Government consulted on reforms to the charge cap as part of ‘Enabling investment in productive finance’ Enabling investment in productive finance - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk. We will respond in the near future

Pensions: Fees and Charges

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 16 March 2022 to Questions 138298 and 138301, whether she plans to publish assessments of the (a) ability of high-charging fund managers to (i) lower and (ii) restructure their fee arrangements to accommodate their products within the existing consumer price cap on pensions, (b) potential for member detriment as a result of fund managers or pension providers changing their fee structures to add new performance-related fees or increase existing performance fees and (c) the proportion of infrastructure funds whose fees cannot be accommodated within the existing consumer price cap on pensions.

Guy Opperman: On 30 November 2021 the Government consulted on reforms to the charge cap as part of ‘Enabling investment in productive finance’ Enabling investment in productive finance - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk. We will respond in the near future.

Social Security Benefits: Uprating

Dr Rupa Huq: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of uprating benefits in line with inflation at the Spring 2022 Budget.

David Rutley: The increase in benefits is linked to the rate of inflation to September 2021 which is published in October. This is the latest date the Secretary of State can use to deliver the required legislative and operational changes before new rates can be introduced at the start of the following financial year.

Universal Credit

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of auto-enrolling everyone in the UK on the universal credit system.

David Rutley: No assessment has been made to auto-enrol everyone in the UK on the Universal Credit system.

Universal Credit

Ms Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 11 February 2022 to Question 12061, on Universal Credit, whether her Department has commissioned research to investigate the proportion of Employment Support Allowance claimants who do not have digital access to enable management of an online journal.

David Rutley: The department annually publishes Customer Survey data obtained for claimants; the last set of data is published from 2018/19. More up to date data was not collated due to Covid-19. In the departments last data set 93% of claimants have access to the internet. For those who do not have access to internet, Jobcentre Plus offices across the country have Wi-Fi and computers available for claimants to access the internet. Work Coaches will also share information with claimants regarding internet providers’ social internet tariffs. For the minority that are still unable to access online services,the department is able to support those individuals through telephone claims.

Universal Credit

Ms Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will publish details of (a) external bodies and (b) other Government departments that are members of the Universal Credit Programme Board.

David Rutley: Universal Credit Programme Board (UCPB) meeting papers are published routinely in six month batches, twice yearly once they are two years old. The UCPB Terms of Reference published on 29 October 2020 can be accessed at the following link, document 56 Deposited paper DEP2020-0644 - Deposited papers - UK Parliament. Roles reflected in the UCPB Terms of Reference include the following:- HMRC Director General (Tax Credits and RTI)- LA Chief Executive- HMT Director of Personal Tax, Welfare and Pensions- Cabinet Office, Operations Lead- Deputy Secretary for Work and Inclusion DFC Northern Ireland

Local Housing Allowance

Ms Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 11 February 2022 to Question 120619, on Local Housing Allowance what her Department’s estimate is of the number of hours required to produce that estimate.

David Rutley: We have made no estimate of the number of hours required to produce the originally requested information. The requested analysis is not a direct output of our current LHA models therefore we have considered that it is reasonable, given the information asked for, that it would breach costs.

Universal Credit

Ms Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will place an unredacted copy of the 2019 report by the Prime Minister’s Implementation Unit on the experience of vulnerable claimants when moving onto universal credit in the House of Commons Library.

David Rutley: The Prime Minister’s Implementation Unit (PMIU) report on the experience of vulnerable claimants in Universal Credit has been redacted in line with Section 36 (Prejudice to the effect conduct of public affairs) of the Freedom Of Information Act. We have reviewed the PMIU Universal Credit vulnerable claimants report and uphold that there is evidence to support the application of a Section 36 exemption to redact the report.

Discretionary Housing Payments

Ms Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will place in the Library the final total allocation of Discretionary Housing Payment funding for each local authority in 2021-22 following the mid-year allocation of the £40 million originally withheld so it could be distributed on the basis of caseload data.

David Rutley: This information is available in a Housing Benefit Subsidy Circular published on gov.uk. Circular reference S10/2021 (revised) provided each local authority’s Mid-year (£40 million) Discretionary Housing Payment allocation for year ending March 2022 and their Total (£140 million) DHP allocation for year ending 2022. The Circular also details the top-up limit for each local authority for the full year as English and Welsh local authorities can top up Discretionary Housing Payment funding up to a maximum of two and a half times this amount using their own funds.

Discretionary Housing Payments: Equality

Ms Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has undertaken an Equality Impact Assessment of its decision to reduce funding for Discretionary Housing Payments in 2022-23.

David Rutley: The Department has embedded Equality Analyses into the manner in which we develop, deliver and evaluate the impact of our policies, practices and services. We considered equalities as part of discussions around Discretionary Housing Payment funding during the Spending Review process.

Pension Protection Fund

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether multi-employer last man standing pension schemes that have a guarantee from a public authority for one or more employers are eligible for the Pension Protection Fund.

Guy Opperman: Under the Pension Protection Fund (Entry Rules) Regulations 2005, schemes which have a guarantee from a public authority are not eligible for the Pension Protection Fund (PPF) and do not usually pay the PPF levy.

Social Security Benefits: Fraud

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many cases of benefit fraud have been found by her Department in each year since 2015; and how many of those cases have resulted in a criminal conviction.

David Rutley: YearCases of benefit fraudCriminal convictions201522,0007,100201624,1006,000201721,4005,800201818,9004,400201921,0002,600202011,90080020215,6008002022 YTD1,100200 The changing nature of fraud investigation work in the 5-year period prior to the Covid pandemic is reflected in the above figures, including an increase in the actual prosecution threshold, which allowed us to generate better returns for the taxpayer by focusing on detecting fraud quicker and enforcing tough Administrative penalties. This was evidenced in 2019, when we took the decision to temporarily divert fraud resources to tackle UC Advances fraud, an emerging threat at that time. This necessary change to our operational approach led to a corresponding increase in financial penalties, with 10,000 Admin. penalties issued in 2019/20 alone. In 2020, DWP’s ability to investigate cases, and the courts’ ability to process cases, were significantly impacted by the Covid pandemic, with large numbers of DWP staff redeployed to support the unprecedented demand for financial support, and social distancing measures constraining our ability to carry out face to face Interviews Under Caution. However, DWP maintained an operational fraud presence throughout and is now looking to resume face to face interviews in DWP premises, whilst making sure that all the necessary safety precautions are in place. We can, as a result, expect to see the level of prosecution cases increasing over the coming months. More generally, it should be noted that DWP will always look to use penalties proportionally. Prosecuting someone for a relatively minor offence could be inappropriate if it adversely affects their life chances by, for example, reducing their employability. This would run against DWP’s overall objective of encouraging people into work and gaining financial independence. DWP focuses instead on prosecuting the most serious, higher value overpayments, but reserves the right to refer any case for prosecution, dependent on the case. Note that all figures have been rounded to the nearest 100 and are correct up to 9 March 2022. Data has been sourced from DWP’s main internal IT fraud management information system. The figures do not reflect cases that are currently suspended, cases that were not investigated by our central fraud investigation team, or data held on other DWP systems.Internal data is only intended to help the Department manage its business. It is not intended for publication and has not been subject to the same quality assurance checks applied to our published official statistics.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Russia: Legal Profession

Christian Matheson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will publish the UK law firms that have made representations to the Government on behalf of Russian or Russian-linked clients in relation to the UK-Russian sanctions regime.

James Cleverly: The UK Government has announced an unprecedented package of sanctions to cut off the funding for Putin's war machine. We have now sanctioned over 1000 individuals, entities and subsidiaries since Putin's invasion of Ukraine. The FCDO regularly receives correspondence regarding designation proposals or specific designations under all sanctions regimes. Law firms that have made representations to the Government on behalf of Russian or Russian-linked clients in relation to the UK-Russian sanctions regime in processed correspondence include BCL Solicitors LLP, W Legal Limited and Peters & Peters.

Ukraine: Humanitarian Aid

Charlotte Nichols: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether financial support for the Ukrainian people is from the existing aid budget at the reduced level that was set in 2021; and if she will make a statement.

James Cleverly: The UK has committed £394 million in aid to the current crisis in Ukraine. This includes £220 million for humanitarian assistance; £100 million for energy security and reform and £74 million direct fiscal support through the World Bank. This will come from the Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget this year and over the next three financial years. The ODA budget is currently set at 0.5% of GNI as per the Spending Review settlement announced in November 2021. The UK stands ready to provide $500 million in loan guarantees from ODA to support Multilateral Development Bank lending. The UK has also provided both ODA and non-ODA support for Ukraine through the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF).

Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

David Mundell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether it is her policy that (a) securing effective support for the 7th Replenishment for the Global Fund should be a high priority for the G7 and G20 this year and (b) this prioritization should be reflected in the UK’s pledge contribution to the Global Fund’s upcoming 7th Replenishment.

David Mundell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what strategic priority her Department allocates to the Global Fund in response to its provision of 25 per cent of all international financing for the global HIV and AIDS response.

David Mundell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if the Government will prioritise increasing the UK’s pledge contribution for the Global Fund’s upcoming 7th Replenishment in response to the (a) 65 per cent reduction in AIDS-related deaths (b) and 54 per cent reduction in new HIV infections since the Global Fund was founded.

Amanda Milling: The UK has contributed over £4.1 billion to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. We are proud of the Global Fund's achievements in helping to reduce AIDS-related deaths by 68% and HIV infections by 54%. Our priority is to ensure that UK aid continues to protect millions of people around the world. We are currently reviewing the Global Fund's 7th replenishment investment case and will continue to work with all G7 and G20 members to support progress in the fight against HIV, TB and Malaria.

Saudi Arabia: Oil

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Prime Minister, if he will make it his policy not to increase oil production traded to the UK from Saudi Arabia in the context of the recent executions in that country.

Amanda Milling: On 16 March the Prime Minister agreed with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia to collaborate to maintain stability in the energy market and continue the transition to renewable and clean technology.No aspect of our relationship with Saudi Arabia prevents us from speaking frankly about human rights. The United Kingdom strongly opposes the death penalty in all countries and in all circumstances, as a matter of principle. The Prime Minister raised human rights concerns during his visit to the Kingdom on 16 March.

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Humanitarian Aid

Fleur Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what peace-building projects are being funded by UK Aid in Bosnia Herzegovina.

James Cleverly: In 2020-2021, the Government funded £60 million of programme activity in the Western Balkans, supporting UK priorities such as conflict prevention and resolution, stronger defence and security, media freedom, gender equality, education, reconciliation, tackling corruption, serious and organised crime and violent extremism. The UK remains committed to helping Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) maintain lasting peace and stability. Our Embassy in Sarajevo supports a range of innovative peace-building projects to deliver citizen-centred reforms. Examples include working with the community in Mostar on social cohesion; the Srebrenica Memorial Centre on genocide prevention; and the International Commission on Missing Persons on improving regional co-operation. We also work to support survivors of sexual violence and mainstreaming gender equality.

Belarus: Sanctions

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of potential further sanctions against Belarus leaders and oligarchs in response to their support for the Russian president.

James Cleverly: The UK continues to work with international partners to coordinate sanctions as necessary, including on Belarus. As with all announcements on sanctions, the ultimate objective is to ensure that Putin fails in Ukraine. The whole of the UK Government, along with our international allies, is working to ensure that happens. The Lukashenko regime is being made to feel the economic consequences for its support for Putin.

Ukraine: Armed Conflict

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with international partners on the situation for international students trapped at the campus of the Sumy State University in Ukraine.

James Cleverly: We are monitoring reports of trapped civilians in Ukraine. The UK continues to call on Russia to implement an immediate ceasefire that allows civilians safe passage, and to enable humanitarian access for civilians to flee the violence. We are working with our partners to demand that Russia complies with its obligations under international humanitarian law.

Ukraine: Refugees

Deidre Brock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what support the Government is providing to refugees from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds leaving Ukraine.

James Cleverly: The UK is committed to the principle of non-discrimination on any grounds, including on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity or race. Combating violence and discrimination against minorities forms an important part of our wider international human rights work. We have pledged £395 million of aid to the current crisis, which includes £220 million of humanitarian assistance and deployed UK humanitarian experts to support Ukraine's neighbours, who are receiving and supporting refugees fleeing Ukraine, through providing logistics advice and analysis of needs on the ground.

Ukraine: Refugees

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with her Polish counterpart on reports that ethnic minority refugees crossing the border into Poland from Ukraine had been under attack by nationalist groups in the Przemyśl area.

James Cleverly: The UK is committed to the principle of non-discrimination on any grounds, including on the basis of race. The UK has deployed humanitarian experts to Poland to provide logistics, advice and analysis of the refugee situation. It is important that all those seeking to leave Ukraine are able to do so and the Foreign Secretary regularly speaks with the Polish Foreign Minister Rau where these issues are raised.

Brazil: Environment Protection and Human Rights

Alyn Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help (a) support human rights in Brazil and (b) tackle the effects on Brazilians of the exploitation of natural resources by private companies in that country.

Vicky Ford: The UK regularly engages with the Brazilian government, civil society organisations and other partners to monitor human rights developments and respect for the rule of law in Brazil. We consider human rights issues in the development and implementation of projects supported by our Embassy in Brazil.

Fundão Tailing Dam: Disaster Relief

Alyn Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has had recent discussions with her Brazilian counterpart on support provided to Brazil to help with recovery from the Mariana dam disaster in 2015.

Vicky Ford: British diplomats have, in partnership with UN Environment Programme, been promoting the new Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM) that brings together key stakeholders in the mining sector including Brazil's Federal and State Government, academia, UK specialists and civil society to address and discuss the safety of Brazilian dams. The Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs has not raised the 2015 Mariana dam disaster with her Brazilian counterpart.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Carbon Emissions

Rachel Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to measure its carbon footprint.

Vicky Ford: FCDO's greenhouse gas emissions are published annually in the Sustainability Report sections of FCDO's Annual Report and Accounts (page 57-73) and the Greening Government Commitments Annual Reports.

Ukraine: Refugees

Munira Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to protect women and girls fleeing the war in Ukraine from abuse and exploitation by human traffickers.

James Cleverly: Modern slavery and human trafficking are abhorrent crimes that the government is committed to tackling. The FCDO has deployed humanitarian specialists to Poland, Moldova and Romania to ensure that the support we are providing to refugees, including women and girls, is tailored to the local context, including the threats they face. Our humanitarian support will be implemented by trusted humanitarian partners with expertise in protection and safeguarding. FCDO staff are reiterating the importance of protection and safeguarding considerations in this response, including the risk of human trafficking, when liaising with HQ and regional staff of multilateral and NGO agencies. More broadly we will continue to coordinate law enforcement efforts by working closely with EU partners to target trafficking routes across Europe, provide protection to the most vulnerable and take tough action against those who seek to exploit people for financial gain.

Iran: Debts

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the £400 million debt paid to Iran will be counted as Official Development Assistance.

James Cleverly: The funds used to pay this debt do not count as Official Development Assistance, but they will only be available for the purchase of humanitarian goods. The IMS [International Military Services] debt has been settled on terms confidential to both parties. The payment was made in full compliance with UK and international sanctions and global counter-terrorism financing and anti-money laundering regulations.

Russia: Sequestration of Assets

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will hold discussions with her counterparts in allied nations on the use of assets seized from Russians as future war reparations to support Ukraine with the reconstruction of homes and infrastructure damaged by the Russian armed forces.

James Cleverly: UK sanctions have been strategically coordinated with international allies to impose severe cost on Putin and his regime. We are acting in lockstep, as our collective impact is greater than the sum of its parts; however the UK has been at the forefront of the allied response. We continue to work closely with allies on further measures that can be taken. Our sanctions send a clear message that nothing, and no one, is off the table.

Russia: Sanctions

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of seizing assets from Russians under the Government's sanctions programme for use as future war reparations to support Ukraine with the reconstruction of homes and infrastructure damaged by the Russian armed forces.

James Cleverly: We are looking at how we can go further to crack down on illicit money in British property and maximise the pressure on the Putin regime. Our unprecedented package of sanctions decisively delivers the highest economic cost the Kremlin has ever seen. Our sanctions send a clear message that nothing, and no one, is off the table.

International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine

Claudia Webbe: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she had made of whether the formation of the International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine is compatible with that country’s obligations under the UN International Convention against the Recruitment, Use, Financing and Training of Mercenaries.

James Cleverly: The International Convention is a treaty that prohibits the recruitment, training, use, and financing of mercenaries. The UK is not a signatory to this Convention. FCDO advises against all travel to Ukraine.

Ukraine: Humanitarian Aid

Ed Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what quantity of medical supplies the Government has delivered to Ukraine since 24 February 2022; and what supplies those deliveries included.

James Cleverly: Since 24 February more than 1.8 million items of medicine, medical equipment and consumables have been delivered via Poland on 9 flights and handed over to the Ukrainian Ministry of Health. 9,468 items (blankets and hygiene kits) were delivered and handed over to the Moldovan Ministry of Labour and Social Protection on 12 March. The equipment for six Internally Displaced People reception centres in Lviv has been flown to Poland and handed over to the International Organisation for Migration. A further consignment of relief items to the UN Refugee Agency is planned for Ukraine and the region which will include blankets, kitchen sets, solar lanterns, hygiene kits and shelter supplies.

Refugees: Ukraine

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will ensure that refugees travelling from the Ukraine to the UK are able to access free transport to the UK.

James Cleverly: From 20 March train operators will provide free onward train travel for Ukrainians on arrival in the UK. Those who have entered the UK will be able to travel for free on the national rail network by showing their Ukrainian passport and a boarding pass or ticket showing arrival into the UK. Many bus and coach operators are also offering free onward travel to final destinations.

Ukraine: Refugees

Wera Hobhouse: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking support people from Black and minority ethnic backgrounds who are fleeing to the UK from Ukraine.

James Cleverly: We are aware of credible reports of discrimination against people of African, Asian and other minority ethnic backgrounds, amongst those seeking to leave Ukraine. The UK is committed to the principle of non-discrimination on any grounds, including on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity or race. Combating violence and discrimination against minorities forms an important part of our wider international human rights work.We have pledged £395 million of aid to the current crisis, which includes £220 million of humanitarian assistance, and deployed UK humanitarian experts to support Ukraine's neighbours, who are receiving and supporting refugees fleeing Ukraine, through providing logistics advice and analysis of needs on the ground.

Home Office

Counter-terrorism: Ukraine

Kenny MacAskill: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department made a counter-terrorism assessment of right-wing extremism in Ukraine following the murder of Mohammed Saleem in 2013.

Damian Hinds: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Home Office: Remote Working

Rachel Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the impact of increased homeworking during the covid-19 outbreak on her Department’s carbon footprint.

Kit Malthouse: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Sexual Offences: Religion

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will publish the latest figures available for the number of police recorded (a) sexual offences and (b) rapes by the religion of the victim where known, for (i) the UK, (ii) Greater London, by borough if available, (iii) Greater Manchester and (iv) Leeds.

Kit Malthouse: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Police: Training

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police forces have undertaken cultural competency training; and what plans her Department has to ensure that that training is rolled out across all forces.

Kit Malthouse: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Females: Safety

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what programmes her Department has undertaken to improve street safety for Jewish women; when those programmes took place; and what assessment she has made of their success.

Kit Malthouse: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Visas: Ukraine

Gill Furniss: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of Ukraine Family Scheme Visas granted to date are for three years; and what proportion of those visas have been offered for shorter periods of time.

Kevin Foster: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

High Rise Flats: Fire Prevention

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the cost to residential leaseholders of ensuring tall buildings meet (a) building and (b) fire safety regulations following the Fire Safety Act.

Tom Pursglove: An impact assessment for the Fire Safety Act 2021 was published alongside its introduction on 12 March 2020 and is available here Impact Assessment (parliament.uk).The Government intends to lay fire safety regulations to implement the majority of the recommendations made by the Grenfell Tower Inquiry in the Phase 1 report, which require a change in the law, as soon as possible once the Fire Safety Act 2021 is commenced in full in England. The impact assessment published alongside the Fire Safety Consultation on 9 July 2020 included an assessment of the costs for the planned fire safety regulations and is available here Fire safety - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). A new impact assessment will be published alongside the regulations when they are laid.

Home Office: Carbon Emissions

Rachel Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to measure its carbon footprint.

Tom Pursglove: Greenhouse gas emissions are published annually in the Greening Government Commitments Annual Reports.

Animals in Science Regulation Unit

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has  made of the impact of the Change Programme on the welfare of animals, including the reduction of in-person inspections on animals and staff.

Tom Pursglove: Each establishment licence holder has the responsibility at all times for the welfare of the animals within their establishment. Establishment licence holders are required to have governance systems in place to ensure all personal and project licence holders comply with the requirements of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA) and to maintain compliance with the conditions on their own establishment licence. These requirements are defined in the Standard Conditions of licences. In July 2021 the regulator initiated a new operating model that delivers a structured and integrated framework aligned with leading regulatory practice. In October of this year the regulator commenced a new system of full system audits that form part of an integrated system to assess compliance across the regulated community. The audit process and the evidence for assessment of compliance against the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, and associated licence conditions, are available at: www.gov.uk/guidance/animal-research-technical-advice#process-and-standards-for-establishment-full-system-audits.

Animals in Science Regulation Unit

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department has taken to ensure that the Animals in Science Regulation Unit provides appropriate regulatory oversight in the context of fewer in-person inspections to view animals and meet with staff.

Tom Pursglove: In July 2021 the regulator initiated a new operating model that delivers a structured and integrated framework aligned with leading regulatory practice. In October of last year the regulator commenced a new system of audits that form part of an integrated system to assess compliance across the regulated community. The audit process and the evidence for assessment of compliance against the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, and associated licence conditions, are available here: www.gov.uk/guidance/animal-research-technical-advice#process-and-standards-for-establishment-full-system-audits.

Sexual Offences: Convictions

Dame Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have been (a) arrested, (b) charged and (c) convicted under section 53A of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 in each calendar year since 2016; and what penalty was imposed in cases of conviction.

Rachel Maclean: The Home Office collects and publishes statistics on the number of arrests for notifiable offences, conducted by each police force in England and Wales, on an annual basis.Data are held at the offence group level only (for example ‘Violence against the person’ and ‘Sexual offences’). Information specifically on the number of arrests for offences under section 53A of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 are not held centrally.Data are published in the ‘Police Powers and Procedures, England and Wales’ statistical bulletin, the latest of which can be accessed here:Police powers and procedures England and Wales statistics - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)The Home Office collects and publishes statistics on the number of charges for notifiable offences, for each police force in England and Wales on a quarterly basis.This includes ‘Soliciting for the purpose of prostitution’ under section 53A of the Sexual Offences Act 2003.Data are published in the ‘Police recorded outcomes’ tables, the latest of which can be accessed here: Police recorded crime and outcomes open data tables - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)The Ministry of Justice holds information on convictions under 53A of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 up to December 2020, available in the ‘Principal offence proceedings and outcomes by Home Office offence code’ data tool, available here:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/987731/HO-code-tool-principal-offence-2020.xlsxUse the ‘Offence code’ filter to isolate the following offence:16702 - Paying or promising to pay a person to provide sexual services, where that person is subject to exploitative conduct to induce or encourage them to provide those servicesConvictions will populate Row 33 and sentence outcomes will populate rows 34 to 42.

Members: Correspondence

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to respond to the letter dated 9 September 2021, and follow-up letters of 8 November 2021 and 15 March 2022, from the hon. Member for Harrow West on behalf of his constituent Soraya Jan; and if she will make a statement.

Tom Pursglove: The Minister for Afghan Resettlement wrote to all members on 13 September 2021 informing that we could not pursue cases concerning Afghan people in country in the usual ways, in view of the very difficult circumstances in Afghanistan. The Minister advised members to signpost individuals to gov.uk to check for the latest information about the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) and the Afghan Citizens’ Resettlement Scheme (ACRS), rather than to seek to pursue cases on their behalf. Unfortunately, the MP Account Management Team has not received the follow-up letters of 8 November 2021 and 15 March 2022.

Animals in Science Regulation Unit

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions she has had with representatives of animal rights charities on the potential impact on animal welfare of the proposed changes set out in the Animals in Science Regulation Unit’s Change Programme.

Tom Pursglove: The Animals in Science Regulation Unit public engagement framework ensures balanced representation and input. The regulator has engaged in stakeholder meetings with animal rights charities, among others, on four occasions since October 2021. Each of the four meetings were held to specifically describe and discuss the regulator’s change programme.

Members: Correspondence

Matt Western: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in what proportion of cases her Department responds to representations from hon Members within the 20 working day response time target.

Tom Pursglove: The Department works to a target of responding to 95% of Hon. Members’ written correspondence within 20 working days.Performance has been impacted by a very significant increase in the volume of correspondence received, including the unprecedented amount of correspondence about the situation in Afghanistan, and more recently Ukraine. Ministers and officials have also had to instigate a remote process for drafting and signing correspondence during the period of COVID-19 restrictions.The Department recognises that it has not been able to meet service standard in some cases, but has implemented an action plan to clear backlogs and drive up performance. The Department has recruited additional resources and expects to return to answering Hon. Members correspondence within the service standard early in the new financial year.Data about intake and performance in answering Hon. Members’ correspondence are published quarterly with the latest quarter available at: Customer service operations data: Q4 2021 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) . This includes data up to and including the end of quarter 4 - 2021.

Antisemitism: Hate Crime

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment her Department has made of the effect of the rise of anti-Semitic hate crime on the safety of Jewish people.

Rachel Maclean: Antisemitism must be understood for what it is - an attack on the identity of people who live, contribute and are valued in our society. There can be no excuses for antisemitism or any other form of racism or prejudice.In 2020/21, 22% of religious hate crimes were targeted at Jewish people, or those perceived to be Jewish - 1288 reported incidents, up from 1205 the previous year.In April 2021, the Home Secretary confirmed the continuation of the Jewish Community Protective Security Grant for 2021-22. This grant of £14m continues to provide for protective security measures at all Jewish state, free and independent schools, colleges, nurseries and some other Jewish community sites, including a number of synagogues.

Children and Young People: Protection

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans she has to publish the findings of research commissioned by the Home Office and Department for Education, conducted by Liverpool John Moores University, on the effectiveness of multi-agency safeguarding partnerships in dealing with young people at risk or involved in serious violence and county lines.

Rachel Maclean: The Home Office is working collaboratively across Government and with operational partners to strengthen the local safeguarding response to child criminal exploitation.Alongside the Department for Education, the Home Office has worked with Liverpool John Moores University to understand the effectiveness of multi-agency safeguarding partnerships in supporting young people at risk of or involved in serious violence and county lines.Having received the final research, we are considering the best way to share learning with local areas and build the findings from the deep dive into future policy.

Armed Forces: Ukraine

Kenny MacAskill: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether any members of Ukraine's Azov Battalion have attended National Action events in the UK since 2015.

Damian Hinds: The Government does not routinely comment on intelligence matters.National Action was proscribed in 2016, making it a criminal offence to belong to or invite support for the organisation, including arranging a meeting in support of National Action. The penalty for proscription offences can be a maximum of 14 years in prison and/or an unlimited fine.The proscription of National Action has significantly supported the police and Security Service to disrupt the group. This includes the prosecution of individuals for proscription offences, as well as wider terrorism and criminal offences.The investigation and prosecution of proscription offences is a matter for the police and Crown Prosecution Service.

Armed Forces: Ukraine

Kenny MacAskill: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether any members of National Action have travelled to Ukraine to meet the Azov Battalion since 2017.

Damian Hinds: We do not routinely comment on intelligence matters.

Refugees: Afghanistan

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of removing the requirement for Afghan refugees to submit their biometrics before entering the UK, as has been done for those fleeing Ukraine.

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to re-establish biometric service in Afghanistan for those seeking to apply for entry into the UK.

Kevin Foster: We remain committed to supporting Afghan nationals through the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy scheme and the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme to come to the UK, as set out in the Afghanistan resettlement and immigration policy statement published on 13 September 2021. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/afghanistan-resettlement-and-immigration-policy-statementWe continue to recommend people in Afghanistan do not make applications and pay application fees at this time as they will not be considered until biometrics are provided. Those Afghans who are outside of Afghanistan and able to get to a Visa Application Centre to provide their biometrics are able to make an application in the usual way.

Refugees

Olivia Blake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applications were (a) made and (b) approved for Humanitarian Protection Leave under the Refugee or Person in Need of International Protection (Qualification) Regulations 2006 in each year since 2016.

Kevin Foster: The Home Office publishes data on asylum and resettlement in the ‘Immigration Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on the number of asylum applications are published in table Asy_D01. Data on the number of applicants that have been granted Humanitarian Protection at initial decision are published in table Asy_D02 of the ‘asylum and resettlement detailed datasets’.Information on how to use the datasets can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook. The latest data relates to December 2021. Additionally, the Home Office publishes a high-level overview of the data in the ‘summary tables’. The ‘contents’ sheet contains an overview of all available data on asylum and resettlement.There is no standalone application for Humanitarian Protection: instead, Humanitarian Protection is considered as part of an asylum application (as per paragraph 327 of the Immigration Rules) following consideration of an applicant’s eligibility for refugee status under paragraph 334 of the Immigration Rules.

Visas: Applications

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to reduce the case backlog of visa administrative reviews.

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the service standard is for completing visa administrative reviews.

Kevin Foster: Following unprecedented levels of administrative review applications since January 2021, plans to increase resource have been in place since early summer 2021. Newly recruited staff are currently being onboarded with more resource following in the coming months. Overall, the expansion programme will more than double the decision makers working on administrative review applications.Current timescales for processing administrative review applications are set out at Ask for a visa administrative review: If you're in the UK - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk), which states: “Currently, it can take 6 months or more to receive the result of the administrative review. If you haven’t had a decision on your application within 3 months, the Home Office will contact you with an update.”Applicants’ rights are not affected by the delay in consideration.

Visas: Ukraine

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if great aunts and uncles will be able to come to the UK under the family scheme from Ukraine.

Kevin Foster: As set out in the Home Secretary’s statement to the House on 1 March, a fee free, bespoke Ukraine Family Scheme has been introduced. The route allows both the immediate (spouse, civil partner, durable partner, minor children) and extended (parent, grandparent, adult children, grandchildren, siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, in laws and their immediate family) to join qualifying family members in the UK. This route was launched on 4 March.Family members such as great aunts and great uncles are not listed as qualifying extended family members for the purposes of the Ukraine Family Scheme. However, the Scheme allows decision makers to apply discretion to accept and consider applications from other family members. Each case will be judged on merit taking into account the individual circumstances of the case.Alternatively, family members in the UK may wish to consider sponsoring a great aunt or uncle under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme. This scheme offers a route to those who want to come to the UK who have someone here willing to provide them with a home. It enables individuals to volunteer accommodation and provide a route to safety for Ukrainians, and their immediate family members, forced to escape their homeland.Further information on the process and how to apply to sponsor under the Homes for Ukraine scheme can be found here:https://homesforukraine.campaign.gov.uk/We are setting no limit on the numbers of people who can come here. We will be glad to welcome as many Ukrainians as wish to come.

Refugees: Afghanistan

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of support provided for refugees who have been resettled in the UK from Afghanistan.

Kevin Foster: All those brought to the UK under the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme and Afghan Relocation Assistance Programme have the right to work, access to education and health care and are able to apply for public funds. For Afghan evacuees who have not yet moved into settled accommodation, we are working at pace across government and with over three hundred Local Authority partners to move Afghan evacuees into permanent homes as soon as possible so they can settle and rebuild their lives. Home Office Liaison Officers (HOLOs) in bridging hotels provide face-to-face support, and remote support when not physically present. They are reactive to the needs of those accommodated in hotels and can provide signposting to other government departments and Local Authorities and ensure safeguarding concerns are appropriately acted upon. We are also providing funding of £28 per person, per day to local authorities to deliver support services in the hotel, including ensuring access to education and health services. Once the Afghan families are settled in their longer-term accommodation they will receive a comprehensive package of integration support as they start their new lives in the UK. Local councils receive £20,520 per person, over three years, for resettlement and integration costs to support the evacuees to acclimatise to the UK, learn English, and find work.

Refugees: Ukraine

Dan Carden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to increase the number of safe and legal routes to the UK from Ukraine for children and families who have been displaced.

Kevin Foster: The Government has introduced two new schemes: the Ukraine Family Scheme announced on 4 March and the Homes for Ukraine Scheme announced 14 March.The Government has established a Ukraine Family Scheme which is fee free and allows British nationals and people settled in the UK to bring extended family members to the UK, covering immediate family members plus parents, grandparents, children over 18 and siblings, aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces, cousins and in-laws. In addition, immediate family members of the extended family can also come to the UK. Individuals will be granted leave for three years, giving them certainty and securing their future in the country.The Homes for Ukraine Scheme, announced on 14 March and led by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, enables Ukrainians who may not have family ties in the UK to be sponsored to come to the UK by willing and able individuals, businesses, or community organisations.There is no numerical limit on either scheme as we will welcome as many Ukrainians as wish to come and, for the sponsorship scheme, that are eligible and have matched sponsors

Asylum: Ukraine

Stephen Farry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether people fleeing Ukraine and entering the UK via the Republic of Ireland are entitled to claim asylum in Northern Ireland.

Kevin Foster: The safest route for people to leave Ukraine is via its neighbouring countries to the West. From the safety of these countries, those escaping the war can benefit from the additional support we have already announced and apply for one of our safe and legal routes to the UK.Ukrainians can apply to reunite with UK-based family via the Ukrainian Family Scheme, and for Ukrainians who do not have family ties with the UK, we have inroduced the Homes for Ukraine scheme, which currently matches Ukrainians with individuals who are willing and able to act as a sponsor.

Visas: Ukraine

Dr Rupa Huq: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether Ukrainian citizens fleeing Ukraine have to pay to apply for visa applications; and what assessment she has made of the potential merits of waiving visa application fees for Ukrainian refugees.

Kevin Foster: Both the Ukraine Family Scheme and Homes for Ukraine sponsorship are fee-free.

Refugees: Afghanistan

Zarah Sultana: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an estimate of the (a) number of Afghan nationals resettled under the ACRS who have higher education qualifications and (b) proportion of that number who acquired those qualifications in the UK.

Kevin Foster: The Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) commenced on 6th January. The ACRS will provide up to 20,000 women, children and others at risk with a safe and legal route to resettle in the UK.We do not capture of hold details of individuals qualifications so are unable to provide this information

British Nationality: Russia

Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 11 March 2022 to Question 129730 on British nationality: Russia, if she will urgently take steps to ascertain how many high net-worth Russian people were granted British citizenship in each year since 2010 broken down by people who subsequently (a) retained and (b) renounced Russian citizenship.

Kevin Foster: As set out in my answer to question 129730, the requirements for a person to register or naturalise as a British citizen are set out in the British Nationality Act 1981 (BNA81). All applications for British citizenship are considered against the relevant requirements of the BNA81.The net worth of an individual is not a basis on which an application for British citizenship would be granted. Therefore, we do not hold the data as requested as no information relating to an applicant’s net-worth is captured as part of the application process for British citizenship.

Visas: Ukraine

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the eligibility to apply for a Ukraine Family Scheme visa published on 4 March 2022, whether the definition of extended family of a Ukrainian national living in the UK will be extended to include (a) aunts and (b) uncles.

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the eligibility requirements in the guidance published by her Department on 4 March 2022, Apply for a Ukraine Family Scheme visa, whether the extended family of a Ukrainian national living in the UK who holds a spouse visa is accepted under the eligibility rules for a UK-based family member as someone settled in the UK in the event that the holder of that spouse visa does not currently have indefinite leave to remain.

Kevin Foster: As set out in the Home Secretary’s statement to the House on 1 March, a fee free, bespoke Ukraine Family Scheme has been introduced. The route allows both the immediate (spouse, civil partner, durable partner, minor children) and extended (parent, grandparent, adult children, grandchildren, siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, in laws and their immediate family) family members to join their relatives in the UK. The UK-based sponsoring relative must be a British citizen, a person who is present and settled in the UK (including those with settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme), a person in the UK with refugee leave or with humanitarian protection or a person in the UK with limited leave under Appendix EU (pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme). This route was launched on 4 March.Ukraine nationals under a spouse visa route who have not obtained settlement are not permitted to sponsor under the Ukraine Family Scheme. However, if their spouse is a British or settled person, they may be able to sponsor some of their family members concerned under the in-law category.Ukrainian spouse visa holders may also wish to consider sponsoring a relative under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme. This bespoke scheme offers a route to those who want to come to the UK who have someone here willing to provide them with a home. It will enable individuals, charities, community groups and businesses to volunteer accommodation and provide a route to safety for Ukrainians, and their immediate family members, forced to escape their homeland.Further information on the process and how to apply to sponsor under the Homes for Ukraine scheme can be found here:https://homesforukraine.campaign.gov.uk/We are setting no limit on the numbers of people who can come here. We will be glad to welcome as many Ukrainians as wish to come.

Immigration: Hong Kong

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing a path to permanent UK residency for Hong Kong citizens who have studied at and graduated from UK universities.

Kevin Foster: International students, including those from Hong Kong, who successfully complete a degree at undergraduate level or above at a Higher Education Provider with a track record of compliance and hold valid permission in the UK as a Student (or Tier 4) may qualify for the Graduate route.The Graduate route does not count towards settlement rights, although graduates are able to switch to the Skilled Worker route if they meet the relevant requirements, which allows them to stay in the UK to do an eligible job with an approved employer and contributes to settlement rights. Given the much wider range of professions which qualify for the current Skilled Worker Visa compared to its predecessor, there are many more opportunities to do this than in the past.In addition, the BN(O) route which was launched on 31 January 2021 enables BN(O) status holders and their eligible family members to live, work and study in the UK on a pathway to citizenship should they decide it is the right choice for them.On 24 February 2022, the Government announced changes to the BN(O) route to allow eligible adult children of a BN(O) status holder to apply for the route independently of their parents, provided they meet all other eligibility and suitability requirements for the route. This change will be implemented from the Autumn with further detail to be published in due course. Those who are eligible and already in the UK on a student visa can switch into the BN(O) route from within the UK.

Fixed Penalties

Felicity Buchan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of amending section 68 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 to raise the maximum value of fixed penalty notices.

Rachel Maclean: The Government introduced Public Spaces Protection Orders through section 68 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 (the ‘2014 Act’) to enable local authorities to tackle anti-social behaviour in public spaces.The powers in the 2014 Act are local in nature, and it is for local agencies to determine whether their use is appropriate in specific circumstances, as they are best placed to understand the needs of their community and the most appropriate response.There are no plans to raise the maximum value of fixed penalty notices in relation to Public Space Protection Orders. However, the Home Office does keep such matters under review.

Visas: Ukraine

Nadia Whittome: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if her Department will take steps to allow Ukrainians in the UK to make online applications to the Ukraine Family Scheme on behalf of their relatives.

Kevin Foster: The new Ukrainian Family Scheme (UFS) can be accessed through GOV.UK and can be used to apply on behalf of a relative: Apply for a Ukraine Family Scheme visa - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

Visas: Ukraine

Owen Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she will provide information and guidance on applying for the Family Migration Visa and Ukrainian Family Scheme in Ukrainian on the gov.uk website.

Kevin Foster: The latest information can be found here: Apply for a Ukraine Family Scheme visa - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

Immigration: EU Countries

Amy Callaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her Department's service delivery standard is for EU Settlement Scheme travel permits; and whether her Department has plans to expedite urgent applications.

Kevin Foster: The published service standards for EEA and EUSS family permits and travel permits can be found at Visa decision waiting times: applications outside the UK - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) Which states:You should get a decision within 3 weeks once you attend your appointment at the visa application centre, if you hold settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme and are applying for an EU Settlement Scheme travel permit to travel to the UK to replace a lost or stolen residence card. Decisions are made in accordance with this service standard where possible.

Immigration: EU Countries

Amy Callaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she had made of the impact of surging decision makers and staff from other Government departments to tackle the influx of applications from Ukraine on processing times for EU Settlement Scheme travel permits from other EU countries.

Kevin Foster: While the Home Office’s priority is on supporting individuals affected by the war in Ukraine, routine work continues on other visa routes, including the EU Settlement Scheme

Refugees: Ukraine

Chris Law: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the risk of children displaced from Ukraine being targeted by smugglers and traffickers.

Rachel Maclean: We stand with Ukraine and will always defend the Ukrainian people’s right to choose their own destiny. Thousands more Ukrainians will be welcomed to the UK as the Government continues its support for Ukraine in their fight against the Russian invasion.The Government is committed to tackling the heinous crime of human trafficking. We will continue to clamp down on those who continue to exploit vulnerable people while providing tailored support for victims to help their recovery. We will continue to monitor the risk and threat of our Ukraine schemes being exploited by smugglers and traffickers.The Government’s Ukraine Family Scheme and Homes for Ukraine Scheme have been designed to ensure we meet our safeguarding obligations, particularly for vulnerable children. For example, here caseworkers have concerns about the identity and relationship of an applicant to the Ukraine Family Scheme and their sponsor, they will undertake background checks on the sponsor.In the Department’s operations, Border Force has a network of specially trained Safeguarding and Modern Slavery officers. Border Force has a key role in identifying victims and perpetrators of human trafficking as they cross the UK border to prevent modern slavery from happening, safeguard other vulnerable persons and help bring to justice those who commit crimes against them too.

Visas: Ukraine

Owen Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her timetable is for the Calais Visa Application Centre for Ukrainian refugees to be open and fully operational.

Kevin Foster: To support people in Northern France who are eligible for the Ukraine Family Scheme, the Home Office has set up a new temporary Visa Application Centre (VAC) in Arras, replacing the interim site in Lille. The Arras VAC is now open. It will only be used for referrals from Border Force of Ukrainians arriving in Calais without visas.From Tuesday 15 March, Ukrainians with valid passports who are eligible for this route can do their application online and will not need to go to a Visa Application Centre to give their biometrics before they come to the UK.

Visas: Ukraine

Owen Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she will enable Ukrainian refugee UK visa applicants to use the UK Immigration: ID Check app to self-enrol biometric information from their biometric passports where available.

Kevin Foster: Since Tuesday 15 March, Ukrainians with valid passports have not needed to go to a Visa Application Centre to give their biometrics before they come to the UK.   Instead, once their application has been considered and the appropriate checks completed, they will receive direct notification they are eligible for the scheme and can come to the UKThe full statement can be found here: Home Secretary update on support for Ukrainians - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

Refugees: Ukraine

Dan Carden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the risk of children displaced from Ukraine being targeted by smugglers and traffickers.

Rachel Maclean: We stand with Ukraine and will always defend the Ukrainian people’s right to choose their own destiny. Thousands more Ukrainians will be welcomed to the UK as the Government continues its support for Ukraine in their fight against the Russian invasion.The Government is committed to tackling the heinous crime of human trafficking. We will continue to clamp down on those who continue to exploit vulnerable people while providing tailored support for victims to help their recovery. We will continue to monitor the risk and threat of our Ukraine schemes being exploited by smugglers and traffickers.The Government’s Ukraine Family Scheme and Homes for Ukraine Scheme have been designed to ensure we meet our safeguarding obligations, particularly for vulnerable children. For example, here caseworkers have concerns about the identity and relationship of an applicant to the Ukraine Family Scheme and their sponsor, they will undertake background checks on the sponsor.In the Department’s operations, Border Force has a network of specially trained Safeguarding and Modern Slavery officers. Border Force has a key role in identifying victims and perpetrators of human trafficking as they cross the UK border to prevent modern slavery from happening, safeguard other vulnerable persons and help bring to justice those who commit crimes against them too.

Visas: Ukraine

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average time for Ukrainian refugee visa applications to be processed is.

Kevin Foster: Applications from Ukraine nationals are being prioritised by UKVI. Home Office Migration Statistics do not capture the average processing time of these applications. To capture numbers would require a manual trawl of data and to do so would incur disproportionate cost. General information on the number of applications currently being processed under the Ukraine Family Scheme can be found in our published data on the GOV.UK webpage: Ukraine Family Scheme: application data - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Refugees: Ukraine

Chris Stephens: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the risk of children displaced from Ukraine being targeted by smugglers and traffickers.

Rachel Maclean: We stand with Ukraine and will always defend the Ukrainian people’s right to choose their own destiny. Thousands more Ukrainians will be welcomed to the UK as the Government continues its support for Ukraine in their fight against the Russian invasion.The Government is committed to tackling the heinous crime of human trafficking. We will continue to clamp down on those who continue to exploit vulnerable people while providing tailored support for victims to help their recovery. We will continue to monitor the risk and threat of our Ukraine schemes being exploited by smugglers and traffickers.The Government’s Ukraine Family Scheme and Homes for Ukraine Scheme have been designed to ensure we meet our safeguarding obligations, particularly for vulnerable children. For example, here caseworkers have concerns about the identity and relationship of an applicant to the Ukraine Family Scheme and their sponsor, they will undertake background checks on the sponsor.In the Department’s operations, Border Force has a network of specially trained Safeguarding and Modern Slavery officers. Border Force has a key role in identifying victims and perpetrators of human trafficking as they cross the UK border to prevent modern slavery from happening, safeguard other vulnerable persons and help bring to justice those who commit crimes against them too.

Refugees: Ukraine

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what agreements have been made across the whole of Europe on how all countries can play an equal part in supporting refugees from Ukraine.

Kevin Foster: The Home Secretary is continuing to speak to her international counterparts to ensure we are taking appropriate action to support the Ukrainian Government and people.The Government has established a Ukraine Family Scheme which is fee free and allows British nationals and people settled in the UK to bring extended family members to the UK, covering immediate family members plus parents, grandparents, children over 18, siblings, aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces, cousins and in-laws. Individuals will be granted leave for three years, giving them certainty and securing their future in the country.The Government has also announced the Homes for Ukraine scheme, which will allow Ukrainians with no family ties to the UK to be sponsored to come to the UK. We will keep our support under constant review.

Visas: Ukraine

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has plans to introduce a new humanitarian route of entry for Ukrainian refugees to the UK.

Kevin Foster: The Government has introduced two new schemes: the Ukraine Family Scheme announced on 4 March the Homes for Ukraine Scheme announced 14 March.Further details can be found at Home Secretary statement on humanitarian support for Ukrainians; Homes for Ukraine – Homes for Ukraine – Local Sponsorship Scheme for Ukraine (campaign.gov.uk); and the Factsheet: Home Office action on Ukraine - Home Office in the media (blog.gov.uk)

Refugees: Ukraine

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many refugees who have arrived in the UK from Ukraine have no recourse to public funds.

Kevin Foster: Ukrainians accepted under the Ukraine Family Scheme and the Homes for Ukraine Scheme will be permitted to live, work, and study in the UK and access public funds for 36 months (3 years) from the time of their arrival.

Visas: Ukraine

Wendy Chamberlain: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance her Department has in place for family members in the Ukraine seeking to join family settled in the United Kingdom under the streamlined process announced on 10 March 2022; and how many applications have been made under that process.

Kevin Foster: The GOV.UK website is periodically revised with additional guidance and information for Ukrainian nationals and their families. The latest information can be found here: Apply for a Ukraine Family Scheme visa - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).General information on the number of applications currently being processed under the newly launched Ukraine Family Scheme can be found in our published data on the GOV.UK webpage: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ukraine-family-scheme-application-data

Refugees: Ukraine

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether Ukrainian refugees will have (a) recourse to public funds and (b) the right to work while waiting for biometric and security checks to be completed.

Kevin Foster: Applicants granted an Entry Clearance visa under the Ukraine Family Scheme will be able to live, work, and study in the UK and access public funds from the point of entry. Applicants switching into the route within the UK will be able to work and access public funds from the date the leave is granted.Ukrainians granted Leave Outside the Rules at the UK border will also be able to live, work, and study in the UK and access public funds.

Windrush Compensation Scheme

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Windrush Compensation Scheme applicants died before receiving compensation, as at 16 March 2022.

Kevin Foster: It is deeply regrettable when a claimant passes away before a compensation award can be made or an apology sent to them.The Windrush Compensation Scheme staff are working hard to ensure where they are aware of claimants with critical or life shortening illnesses, their cases are prioritised.In the unfortunate circumstances where a claimant has passed away after submitting a compensation claim, but before the claim is fully resolved, the team continues to work closely with the appointed representative, usually members of the family, to ensure the compensation payment is made as quickly as possible to the family member.As at the end of January 2022 in line with the latest Windrush Compensation Scheme published data, out of the 3490 applications made to the Windrush Compensation Scheme, we are aware of 28 cases to date where the claimant had passed away after having submitted a claim but before receiving compensation. We are working closely with the families and legal representatives to determine the right person to whom the compensation can be paid as quickly as possible.It must be noted this data is manually recorded and is reliant on the person receiving the information on an applicant notifying the Windrush Compensation Scheme to record this information. The data isn’t recorded in a reportable field in the casework system.

British National (Overseas): Hong Kong

John Lamont: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Hong Kong BNO visas have been issued; and what data her Department holds on where holders choose to live in the UK.

Kevin Foster: The Home Office publishes data on the number of applications and grants of leave on the British National Overseas (BN(O)) route in the “How many people come to the UK each year (including visitors)?” topic and underlying datasets of the ‘Immigration Statistics Quarterly Release’.The latest data relates to 2021. These statistics include data on main applicants and dependants. Data for Q1 2022 will be published on 26 May 2022.The Home Office does not hold information on where visa holders might choose to live in the UK as they are free to settle in any part of it.

Visas: Refugees

Nadia Whittome: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will take steps to change the family reunion rules for all refugees to those her Department has put in place for Ukrainian refugees in response to the crisis in that country.

Kevin Foster: Due to recent events in Ukraine, the Government has established a bespoke scheme to provide an immediate pathway for people from Ukraine to join family already in the UK. The Ukraine Family Scheme is designed to allow as many people as possible to come to the UK in these exceptional circumstances.The Government’s refugee family reunion policy is one of many generous safe and legal routes which supports refugees to have family re-join them, if they formed part of the immediate family unit before the sponsor fled the country.Our policy makes clear that there is discretion to grant visas outside the Immigration Rules, which caters for extended family members in exceptional circumstances – including young adult sons or daughters who are dependent on family here and living in dangerous situations.There are separate provisions in the Rules to allow extended family to sponsor children to come here where there are serious and compelling circumstances.Refugees can also sponsor adult dependent relatives living overseas to join them where, due to age, illness or disability, that person requires long-term personal care that can only be provided by relatives in the UK.To strengthen our existing policy, we have also committed to providing additional clarity in the Immigration Rules on the exceptional circumstances where we would grant leave to a child seeking to join a relative in the UK.

British Nationality

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what proportion of naturalisation applications were completed within her Department’s target of six months in each of the last four reporting periods for which data is available.

Kevin Foster: Secretary of State’s Home Department publishes data on naturalisation applications completed within six months, this data for the previous 4 quarters can be found on the Gov.uk website at.https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/visas-and-citizenship-data-q1-2021https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/visas-and-citizenship-data-q2-2021https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/visas-and-citizenship-data-q3-2021https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/visas-and-citizenship-data-q4-2021The last set of data was published on 24th February 2022.

Armed Conflict: Ukraine

Claudia Webbe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to monitor whether political extremists are traveling from the UK to fight in Ukraine.

Kevin Foster: The Government’s priority is the safety and security of the UK and the people who live here. It would not be appropriate for reasons of national security to comment on whether or not action is taken to monitor individuals.Depending on the nature of activity and the circumstances in which it was carried out, travel to engage in overseas conflict could potentially give rise to offences under UK law, including terrorism and war crimes. Where individuals do return, they should expect to be investigated and, where there is evidence that crimes have been committed, they should expect to face prosecution. Any decision to prosecute will be a matter for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) - both the police and CPS are operationally independent of Government.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

Housing: Construction

Dr Rupa Huq: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how many people have been helped by the First Homes scheme in (a) Ealing Central and Acton constituency, (b) London and (c) England.

Stuart Andrew: So far, there have been 28 legal completions of First Homes in our pilot sites in Derbyshire, County Durham and Staffordshire, with 10 more expected in the coming weeks. Homes England are additionally working on the Government's behalf aiming to deliver 1,500 First Homes across England by the end of March 2023.We are not aware of any First Homes schemes planned in Ealing Central and Acton or Greater London, which are outside Homes England's jurisdiction. However, as of 28 June 2021, national planning policy sets an expectation that new local plans should ensure 25% of all affordable homes delivered through developer contributions should be First Homes.

Energy Bills Rebate

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, when the funding for the local authority discretionary fund for those not eligible for the council tax rebate will be allocated.

Kemi Badenoch: The Government confirmed allocations for both the core and discretionary elements of the council tax rebate scheme in guidance published on 23 February. The funding for those allocations will be paid to councils on 30 March.

Housing: Refugees

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what plans he has for the provision of housing to refugees, including in areas of the country where there is a housing shortage, following the offer of accommodation to refugees for six months as part of the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

Eddie Hughes: The support for the people coming to the UK under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme sits alongside our commitment to deliver affordable homes.Since 2010, we have delivered over 574,100 new affordable homes, including over 403,400 affordable homes for rent, of which over 154,600 homes are for social rent.

Refugees: Afghanistan

Sir Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will make an assessment of which elements of the visa and housing schemes for Ukrainians can be made available to Afghans; and if he will make a statement.

Sir Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment he has made of the elements of the visas and housing schemes for Ukrainians that can effectively and appropriately be extended to Afghans; and if he will make a statement.

Eddie Hughes: I refer my Rt Hon Friend to my answer to Question UIN 141238 21 March 2022.

Homes for Ukraine Scheme: Social Security Benefits

Wera Hobhouse: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether disabled refugees entering the UK under the Homes for Ukraine scheme will be able to claim disability benefits, such as Personal Independence Payments and Disability Living Allowance.

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what support will be given to sponsors in the Homes for Ukraine scheme who may come to be housing sufferers of trauma and PTSD.

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how his Department calculated the £350 monthly sum to be offered to people in the UK who accommodate Ukrainian refugees; and what assessment he has made of what that sum should be spent on each month.

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, in relation to the Homes for Ukraine, will the Minister consider a dedicated phoneline, or support service for Ukrainians who need assistance if their home placement fails.

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what support the Government plans to provide to third party organisations providing support services to Ukrainian refugees under the Homes for Ukraine scheme, to account for the extra demand on their services.

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to the Homes for Ukrainians scheme, whether people who rent properties will be able to offer a spare room in that property as accommodation to Ukrainian refugees.

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what checks will be carried out on (a) sponsors and (b) sponsors housing children under the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to the Homes for Ukraine scheme, whether he is providing additional funding to local authorities to carry out (a) initial and (b) rolling checks on the appropriateness of sponsors' accommodation.

Mike Amesbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to the Homes for Ukraine scheme, whether he plans to introduce formal arrangements, overseen by Government, for matching Ukrainian refugees to an appropriate UK household.

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will implement a centralised system to match refugees without any association to the UK with families who have undergone safeguarding checks.

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to the Homes for Ukraine scheme, what assessment he has made of the experience and ability of charities, churches and community organisations to match Ukrainian refugees to UK families; and whether the Government or an agency of Government plans to provide information to those organisations to help match refugees to families.

Sarah Olney: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what financial support the Government plans to make available to pension-age Ukrainian refugees.

Eddie Hughes: I refer the Hon Member to the guidance for local authorities available online at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/homes-for-ukraine-guidance-for-councils.

Cabinet Office

Special Advisers: Employment

Angela Rayner: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what guidance applies to former Government special advisers using their previous civil service job titles in subsequent commercial activities.

Michael Ellis: The Business Appointment Rules provide guidance on the provisions that apply when civil servants leave Crown employment. They can be found at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/579758/Business_Appointment_Rules_for_civil_servants.pdf. The Special Adviser Code of Conduct and Model Contract for Special Advisers also include ongoing obligations that former Special Advisers are expected to observe after their employment.

Cabinet Office: Discrimination

Chris Stephens: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many Employment Tribunal claims of (a) race and (b) disability discrimination have been settled before a hearing in each of the last five years; and what the total cost was of those settlements.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: Under the GDPR, the Cabinet Office is unable to provide specific data broken down year-on-year for the number of Employment Tribunal claims of a) race and b) disability that have been settled before a hearing. However, in total for the five year period from 01/01/2017 - 01/01/2022 there have been a total of 9 race, disability or race and disability discrimination cases that have been settled before a hearing. The total cost of settlement provided by our third party provider for all disability and race discrimination cases for the Cabinet Office in the five year period is £280,085.15. This figure captures settlement only - not associated costs. Any settlements made during the ACAS Early Conciliation process are not included here as by definition they have not progressed to an employment tribunal claim.

Cabinet Office: Discrimination

Chris Stephens: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many Employment Tribunal claims of (a) race and (b) disability discrimination have been lodged against the Cabinet Office in each of the last five years.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: Under the GDPR, the Cabinet Office is unable to provide specific data broken down year-on-year for the number of employment tribunal claims of a) race and b) disability that have been lodged. However, in total for the five year period from 01/01/2017 - 01/01/2022 there have been a total of 27 race, disability or race and disability discrimination cases lodged. Some claims are not defined for singular reasons; a claim may have multiple aspects.

Index Linking

Darren Jones: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what reason the ROSSI index was discontinued in January 2017.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the hon. Member’s Parliamentary Question of 18 March is attached. UKSA response (pdf, 108.2KB)

Cabinet Office: Remote Working

Rachel Hopkins: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the impact of increased homeworking during the covid-19 outbreak on his Department’s carbon footprint.

Mr Jacob Rees-Mogg: The Department monitors and reports on its greenhouse gas emissions - information on this is published in the Greening Government Commitments Annual Report. Any impact of increased home working during the COVID-19 pandemic will be included in the 2020/21 Greening Government Annual Report, which will be published in due course.

Cabinet Committees: Internet

Angela Rayner: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 15 March 2022 to Question 136573 on Cabinet Committees, whether the Cabinet Committees page on gov.uk is up to date as of 17 March 2022.

Michael Ellis: GOV.UK is updated regularly with the list of Cabinet Committees, their terms of reference and membership. The Cabinet Committee list on GOV.UK is not intended to serve as a live record.

National Economic Recovery Taskforce (Logistics): Cabinet Committees

Angela Rayner: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the National Economic Recovery Taskforce (Logistics) Cabinet Committee met at least once before it was removed from the list of Cabinet Committees.

Michael Ellis: It is a long-established precedent that information about the discussions that have taken place in Cabinet and its Committees and how often they have met, is not shared publicly.

Treasury

Cost of Living: Carers

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans to take steps to support unpaid carers with the recent increase in the cost of living.

Mr Simon Clarke: The government understands the pressures that many households are facing with the cost of living and is monitoring the situation closely. These are global challenges, but the government is providing support worth over £22 billion in 2022-2023 to help families with these pressures, much of which will help carers on low incomes. This includes providing millions of households with up to £350 to help with rising energy bills and helping people keep more of what they earn. The government has cut the Universal Credit taper rate and increased work allowances, frozen alcohol duty as well as announcing a further rise in the National Living Wage to £9.50 an hour from April 2022.The Spring Statement went further, with the government announcing an increase to the annual National Insurance Primary Threshold and Lower Profits Limit to £12,570, a cut to fuel duty by 5 pence per litre, and an additional £500m to help with the cost of essentials such as food, clothing and utilities through the Household Support Fund.Carers and their vital contribution to society are also recognised within the welfare system. Carers can receive additional support through Carer’s Allowance, the Carer Element in Uni versal Credit and through Pension Credit. The weekly rate of Carer’s Allowance will increase to £69.70 in April 2022. Around 360,000 carer households on Universal Credit can receive an additional £1,965 a year through the Carer Element, ensuring that extra support is focused on those carers who need it most. This amount will increase from April 2022 and will benefit carers across the country.

Audiobooks: VAT

Andrew Lewer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, about the potential merits of levying VAT on audiobooks.

Lucy Frazer: Audiobooks, in both physical and digital format, are subject to VAT at the standard rate. VAT has been designed as a broad-based tax on consumption, and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to the vast majority of goods and services, including audiobooks. VAT raised around £130 billion in 2019-20 and helps to fund key spending priorities. VAT, as a matter of tax policy, is overseen by the HM Treasury. There are no planned discussions between the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on the merits of levying VAT on audiobooks. The Government keeps all taxes under review, including VAT.

Homes for Ukraine Scheme: Taxation

Alan Brown: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the £350 payments made under the Homes for Ukraine initiative will be tax free.

Lucy Frazer: As confirmed by the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on Monday 14 March 2022, under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme the Government will provide a monthly payment of £350 to sponsors for each family whom they look after, limited to one payment per residential address offered, and these payments will be tax-free.

Sanitary Protection: VAT

Dr Rupa Huq: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of removing VAT on reusable period underwear.

Lucy Frazer: A zero rate of VAT has applied to Women’s Sanitary Products since 1 January 2021 and applies to those products which were previously subject to the reduced rate of 5 per cent. The relief specifically excludes articles of clothing, including “period pants”. Such exclusions are designed to ensure that the relief is properly targeted, since difficulties in policing the scope of the relief create the potential for litigation, erosion of the tax base, and a reduction in revenue. Under existing rules “period pants” may already qualify for the zero rate if they have been specifically designed to be worn by a child, meet the sizing criteria, and are for sale specifically for use by girls under the age of 14 years old.

Children: Day Care

Claire Hanna: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make it his policy to increase the level of tax free childcare support available in the 2022 spring statement.

Mr Simon Clarke: TFC is a generous scheme which provides financial support for working parents with their childcare costs. For every £8 that parents pay into their childcare account, the government adds £2, up to a maximum of £2,000 in top up per year for each child aged up to 11, and up to £4,000 per disabled child until they are 17.

Financial Services: Disadvantaged

Stephen Farry: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Financial Conduct Authority in tackling financial inclusion.

John Glen: The Government works closely with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to ensure that people, regardless of their background or income, have access to useful and affordable financial products and services. The FCA’s current and ongoing initiatives to improve financial inclusion - which include work on access to cash, access to credit and vulnerable consumers - demonstrate that it can already effectively support the Government’s financial inclusion agenda The Government has also legislated to require the FCA to consult on the introduction of a duty of care owed by firms to consumers through the Financial Services Act 2021. The FCA has since consulted on the introduction of a new ‘Consumer Duty’, which seeks to set higher and clearer expectations for the standard of care firms should provide to consumers.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Animal Products: Imports

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the progress of the Animals Abroad Bill; and what his Department's timeframe is for bringing forward further legislative proposals on animal welfare.

Victoria Prentis: In the last year we have already introduced our Animal Sentience and Kept Animals Bills to Parliament and published the Government's Action Plan for Animal Welfare. The Action Plan for Animal Welfare demonstrates this Government's commitment to a brighter future for animals both at home and abroad.We are moving forward with our plans to deliver one of the toughest bans in the world on the import of hunting trophies from thousands of endangered and threatened species. We are firmly committed to the ban and this will be brought forward as soon as Parliamentary time allows. We are also looking at further measures to protect animals abroad, including banning the import and export of detached fins, and taking action against low welfare animal experiences.The Kept Animals Bill completed Commons Committee Stage in November. Since introduction, the Government has added a new pet abduction offence to the Bill and extended the primates measure to Wales. We have also consulted on the use of powers in the Bill to tackle puppy smuggling. The Government is committed to this Bill and it will progress in its current form as soon as Parliamentary time allows.

Pets: Import Controls

Margaret Ferrier: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing a visual check at the border to ensure that the pet animal is the (a) same as the animal listed on the pet passport and (b) age stated.

Victoria Prentis: We operate one of the most rigorous and robust pet travel checking regimes in Europe. All non-commercial dogs, cats and ferrets entering Great Britain on approved routes (every route other than Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and the Crown Dependencies) under the Pet Travel rules undergo 100% documentary and identity checks by authorised pet checkers. To enter Great Britain pets must have been implanted with a microchip or have a legible tattoo imprinted prior to 3 July 2011. A pet’s identity is checked by ensuring that the microchip or tattoo details correspond to the details in the pet’s documentation, which includes the date of birth of the pet animal. Carriers can refer suspected non-compliances to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), including cases where any dog appears underage. APHA staff are highly trained to deal with intercepted shipments. APHA works collaboratively with Border Force and other operational partners at ports, airports and inland, sharing intelligence to enforce the Pet Travel rules, disrupt illegal imports, safeguard the welfare of animals and seize non-compliant animals.The Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill was introduced in Parliament on 8 June 2021 and completed committee on 18 November 2021. The Bill allows us to further protect the welfare of pets by introducing restrictions to crack down on the low welfare movements of pets into Great Britain and includes powers to introduce new restrictions on pet travel and the commercial import of pets on welfare grounds, via secondary legislation.

Agriculture: Standards

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to enable farms to carry out improvements required to be more (a) efficient, (b) productive and (c) environmentally sustainable.

Victoria Prentis: This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only. The Government announced a range of new schemes designed to help England’s farmers to enhance their efficiency, productivity, and environmental sustainability in the Agricultural Transition Plan of November 2020. Environmentally sustainable farming is fundamental to our new approach to England's agricultural system. We are introducing three schemes that reward farmers for environmental benefits: the Sustainable Farming Incentive, Local Nature Recovery and Landscape Recovery. These new Environmental Land Management schemes will pay for sustainable farming practices, improving animal health and welfare, reducing carbon emissions, creating and preserving habitat, and making landscape-scale environmental changes. Deploying new innovation and technology is key to boosting efficiency and productivity whilst also enhancing the environment. Through the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund, we recently awarded grants valued at £48 million to over 4,300 farmers and growers. This will allow them to invest in equipment, technology and infrastructure so their businesses can prosper, improve productivity and enhance the environment. Defra is also supporting farmers through the Future Farming Resilience Fund, which is an initiative to provide free business support to BPS recipients in England, to help them identify how they may need to adapt their businesses. In spring 2021, Defra launched the £14.5 million Farming Innovation Pathways competition in partnership with UK Research and Innovation for 48 collaborative R&D projects aimed at bringing farmers, businesses and researchers together to develop new and existing farm-focused innovations. We are building on this momentum with the launch of Defra’s new Farming Innovation Programme, which will unlock innovation and pull-through R&D to deliver solutions to help farmers and growers overcome challenges and make the most of new opportunities. Defra has made £17.5 million available so far in the Farming Innovation Programme and we have seen a fantastic response from the farming sectors so far. More funding is planned to launch in the coming weeks and months.

Food Supply

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to publish the Government's response to the National Food Strategy.

Victoria Prentis: The forthcoming Food Strategy White Paper is a once in a generation opportunity to create a food system that feeds our nation today and protects it for tomorrow. It will build on existing work across Government and identify new opportunities to make the food system healthier, more sustainable, more resilient, and more accessible for those across the UK. In doing so, it will consider the evidence of Henry Dimbleby’s independent review. Given ongoing wider circumstances we expect to publish the food strategy after the pre-election period for the local elections.

Trapping

Dr Dan Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of use of (a) snare traps and (b) other inhumane forms of animal trap.

Rebecca Pow: In 2012 Defra published a report titled “Determining the Extent of Use and Humaneness of Snares in England and Wales”. This report estimated that at any one time and depending on the season, between 62,800 and 188,300 fox snares were being used in England, the maximum occurring in March. A survey conducted as part of this report suggests that rabbit snares were in use on 1,567 holdings in England, with an average of 12 snares being set at any one time on each of these holdings. Defra has not undertaken any more recent research into the number of snares being used and therefore cannot provide an assessment on trends in snare use. When used improperly, snares can cause immense suffering and the Government is looking at whether changes are needed to address these concerns. The Government’s Action Plan for Animal Welfare, published last year, included an ambition to conduct a call for evidence on the use of snares and this will be launched in due course. In terms of other inhumane forms of animal trap, my department is supporting the Glue Traps (Offences) Bill, a Private Member’s Bill introduced by Jane Stevenson MP last year, to restrict the use of glue traps as a means of pest control to help make sure rodents are despatched in a humane manner. Glue traps can cause immense suffering to rodents and other animals that inadvertently fall victim to their use. While the Government does not hold any official data on total glue trap sales, conversations with stakeholders have suggested that at least 250,000 glue boards were sold each year in the UK between 2017 – 2020.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Remote Working

Rachel Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the impact of increased homeworking during the covid-19 outbreak on his Department’s carbon footprint.

Rebecca Pow: The Department monitors and reports on its greenhouse gas emissions - information on this is published in the Greening Government Commitments Annual Report.

River Tame: Pollution

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to her meeting of 9 March 2022 with the hon. Member for Denton and Reddish, what steps she expects the Environment Agency to take in response to further reports of pollution in the River Tame arising from illegal pollutants being discharged into the tributary Wilson Brook.

Rebecca Pow: Following information received through further reports of pollution at Wilson brook, Hyde Park on Thursday 17 March 2022, the Environment Agency (EA) attended Hyde Park to investigate. The pollution was traced to a point upstream of a local industrial estate. The EA investigation into this incident is ongoing, and it will be attending the location again this week to further progress its investigation. Should this uncover further lines of enquiry, further investigations to understand the source, pathway, cause and nature of the pollution will commence.If the EA identifies any offences attributable to a suspect, then enforcement action will be taken in line with its offence response options available here:Environmental Permitting Regulations (EPR) offences - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)Taking into consideration alongside its Enforcement and Sanctions Policy:Environment Agency enforcement and sanctions policy - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)The EA has also been in contact with local businesses in that area to ensure they are acting responsibly.

Poultry: Animal Welfare

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Rural and Food Affairs, with reference to his Department's Action Plan for Animal Welfare published on 12 May 2021, what his timescale is for examining the use of cages for laying hens.

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations he has made to the (a) Welsh Government, (b) Scottish Government and (c) Northern Ireland Executive on banning the use of cages for laying hens.

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the EU’s decision to ban the use of cages for farm animals in the EU by 2027.

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much funding he will allocate through the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway to support poultry farmers to transition to cage–free systems.

Jo Churchill: The UK Government is delivering a series of ambitious reforms, as outlined in the Action Plan for Animal Welfare. We are actively exploring options to phase out the use of cages in farming, including the use of cages for laying hens. In coming to an assessment of the potential merits of banning cages for laying hens we will wish to consult all interested organisations.Animal welfare is a devolved issue and we continue to work closely with our devolved counterparts when considering future policy.The EU Commission announced its intention to bring forward legislative proposals by 2023 to prohibit the use of cages for all farmed livestock, including colony cages for laying hens. The Commission’s stated aim is to introduce legislation in 2027, but under pressure from some Member States we anticipate the phase in period for banning enriched cages may be several years. The EU’s programme of work will address many issues which we are already looking at, for example, cages for farmed animals and long journeys.The UK Government has made a clear manifesto commitment that in all of our trade negotiations we will not compromise on our high environmental protection, animal welfare and food standards. We will need to consider trade aspects of any ban to avoid the risk of exporting production of eggs for catering/processing to third countries which continue to allow enriched cages.We are establishing an Animal Health and Welfare Pathway as an all-encompassing approach to the health and welfare of farmed animals in England. Establishing a new partnership between Government and farmers, the Pathway maps out how farmers and Government will work together to continually improve the health and welfare of farmed animals now and in the future. Farmers will be able to choose whether to take part in Pathway and may take flexible routes through the schemes available depending on what is most relevant to them and their system. As set out in the 22 nd February publication on the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway, one of the Pathway's priorities will be to support a transition away from enriched cages for laying hens. At this stage, there has been no decision on allocation of funding.

Air Pollution

Geraint Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, in which months he plans to consult on the (a) National Air Quality Strategy, (b) National Air Pollution Control Programme, (c) air quality targets set by the Environment Act 2021 and (d) changes to Local Air Quality Management.

Jo Churchill: We are currently aiming for public consultations to take place a) for the National Air Quality Strategy in Autumn 2022, b) for the revised National Air Pollution Control Programme in Spring-Summer 2022 and d) for the changes to the Local Air Quality Management framework in Spring-Summer 2022. The consultation related to the air quality targets set under the Environment Act 2021 has already been published.

Air Pollution

Geraint Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how the new National Air Quality Strategy will differ from the (a) Clean Air Strategy 2019 and (b) National Air Quality Strategy 2007.

Jo Churchill: The Government's Clean Air Strategy and National Air Quality Strategy are complementary. The Clean Air Strategy sets out national measures for reducing emissions of five key pollutants to meet statutory emissions ceilings. The Air Quality Strategy 2007 sets out policies with respect to the assessment or management of air quality and which includes standards and objectives for local air quality. Together these strategies aim to tackle air pollution to protect people's health and reduce harmful effects on the environmentIn line with commitments in the Environment Act 2021, Government is reviewing the National Air Quality Strategy and will publish a revised Strategy in 2023. A key objective will be improving local authority capability to target action to reduce health disparities from air pollution and its disproportionate impact on vulnerable groups. The revised Strategy will take our new air quality targets, to be set under the Environment Act 2021, into account.

Poultry: Seasonal Workers

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when his Department will announce the seasonal worker scheme for the poultry industry for the 2022 Christmas period.

Victoria Prentis: The Government does not currently plan to reintroduce a scheme for temporary visas to poultry workers in 2022. We will however keep labour market data under very careful scrutiny to monitor any pressures in the poultry sector. Our points-based system allows for many roles in poultry production to be recruited via the Skilled Worker route, such as poultry processors, bird dressers, pluckers, trussers and butchers for all meats.

Forests: Climate Change

Ben Lake: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to adapt its policy on forestry in the event of a two degrees Celsuis of warming.

Jo Churchill: We understand that climate change is a significant challenge facing our woodlands and are taking steps to improve the resilience of trees and woodlands, as set out in the England Trees Action Plan.A Woodland Resilience Implementation Plan is being developed to improve the ecological condition of our woodlands and increase their resilience to climate change, pests and diseases. We will also support the Forestry and Climate Change Working Group in implementing its adaptation plan, including launching a climate change competition to highlight best practice and the need to adapt new and existing woodlands to the effects of climate change.Most of our native species have a large geographic range covering much of Europe, so should be able to cope with a changing climate. There is a high level of genetic diversity within our native woodlands, supporting evolutionary adaptation processes and we are advising woodland managers to think hard about the current and future climates and woodland resilience when planting and managing woodland. We have provided: Ecological Site Classification; a climate matching tool to help woodland managers with planning resilient woodlands; and Forest Research will shortly publish a new UK Forestry Standard Practice Guide on adapting forest and woodland management for the changing climate.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Carbon Emissions

Rachel Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to measure its carbon footprint.

Rebecca Pow: Greenhouse gas emissions are published annually in the Greening Government Commitments Annual Reports.

Prime Minister

Prime Minister: DP World

Grahame Morris: To ask the Prime Minister, whether (a) he and (b) his staff have had discussions with representatives of (i) DP world or (ii) their subsidiaries in each of the last 12 months.

Sarah Owen: To ask the Prime Minister, when he last met with officials at P&O Ferries.

Boris Johnson: Details of ministerial meetings with external organisations and individuals are published on the gov.uk website.More generally, I refer the Hon. Member to the response by my Rt Hon Friend, the Transport Secretary of Official Report, 21 March 2022, Col. 43.